Quadratic Equation and

Function of Second Grade

OBJECTIVES:
Know and apply mathematical concepts associated with
the study of the quadratic function.
Graph a quadratic function, determining vertex, axis of
symmetry and concavity.
Display graphic features of a parabola through
discriminant analysis.
Determine the intersection of the parabola with the
Cartesian axes.
Determine the roots of an equation of 2nd degree.
Content
1. Quadratic function
2. 2nd degree equation
1.1 Y axis intercept
1.2 Concavity
1.3 Axis of symmetry and vertex
2.1 Roots of a quadratic equation
2.2 Properties of the roots
2.3 Discriminate
1.4 Discriminate
1. Quadratic Function
It is of the form
f(x) = ax
2
+ bx + c
Examples:
And its graph is a parabola.
a) If f(x) = 2x
2
+ 3x + 1
b) If f(x) = 4x
2
- 5x - 2
a = 2, b = 3 y c = 1
a = 4, b = -5 y c = -2


con a =0; a,b,c IR
1.1. Intersection with Y axis
In the quadratic function f (x) = ax2 + bx + c, the
coefficient c indicates the ordinate of point Y where
the parabola intersects the axis
x
y
x
y
c
(0,C)
1.2. Concavity
In the quadratic function f (x) = ax2 + bx + c, the
coefficient a indicates whether the parabola is concave
up or down.
If a> 0,
is concave up
If a <0,
is concave downward
Then, the parabola intersects the Y axis at the point (0, - 4)
and is concave upward.
x
y
Example:
In the function f (x) = x2 - 3x - 4, a = 1 and c = - 4.
(0,-4)
The value of "b" in the equation allows to know the movement
horizontal parabola and the "a" concave.
Be the quadratic function f (x) = ax + bx + c
Then
IF a>0 y b<0 The parabola opens upward and is oriented to
right.
IF a>0 y b>0 The parabola opens upward and is oriented to
left
IF a<0 y b>0 The parabola opens downward and is
oriented to right
IF a<0 y b<0 The parabola opens downward and is oriented
left
1.3 The importance of the value of "a" and "b"
Ej. f(x)=2x - 3x +2
Ej. f(x)=x + 3x - 2
Ej. f(x)=-3x + 4x 1
Ej. f(x)=-x - 4x + 1
1.4. Axis of symmetry and vertex
The axis of symmetry is the line through the vertex of
the parabola, and is parallel to the axis Y.
x
y
Axis of symmetry
vertex
The vertex of a parabola is the highest or lowest point
of the curve, as its concavity.
IF f(x) = ax
2
+ bx + c , Then:
b) Its vertex is:
a) Its axis of symmetry is:
2a
2a
V =
-b , f -b

4a
-b , 4ac b
2
2a
V =
-b

2a
x =
Example:
21
-2

x =
In the function f(x) = x
2
+ 2x - 8, a = 1, b = 2 y c = - 8,
then:
V = ( -1, f(-1) )
a) Its axis of symmetry is:
x = -1
b) Its vertex is:
V = ( -1, -9 )
2a
-b

x =
-b , f -b

2a
2a
V =



f(x)
V = ( -1, -9 )
x = -1
Axis of symmetry:
vertex:
1.It means that the function is moved to the left or
right, h units and opens upward or downward.
Ex. 1) y=2(x-3) () 2) y=-3(x-4) ()

If y=ax any quadratic function, then:
2. y =a(x+h) means that the function is moved to the left or
right h units and opens up or down.
Ex. 1) y= 4(x+2) () 2) y=-(x+1) ()
1.5 Behavior of the function according to "a", "h" and "k"
x
y
x
y
x
y
3. y=a(x-h) k means that the function is moved to the
right or left k units up or down.
Ex. 1) y=5(x-1) - 4 () 2) y=-3(x-7) + 6 ()
4. y=a(x + h) k means that the function is moved to the
right or left k units up or down.

Ex. 1) y=(x+6) - 5 () 2) y=-5(x+3) + 3
()
Obs. V(h,k) is the vertex of the parabola.
x
y
f the parabola is opened upward, the vertex is
a minimum and if the parabola is open
downward, the vertex is a maximum.
The discriminant is defined as:
= b
2
- 4ac
a) If the discriminant is positive, then the parabola
intersects two points on the axis X.
> 0
1.6. Discriminate
If the discriminant is negative, then the
NO parabola intersects the axis X.
< 0
c) If the discriminant is zero, then the
parabola intersects at a single point to the X axis is
tangent to it.
= 0
x
2
x
1
2. Quadratic Equation
A quadratic or quadratic equation is of the form:
ax
2
+ bx + c = 0, con a 0
Every quadratic equation has two solutions or roots.
If these are real, correspond to points of intersection
of the parabola f (x) = ax2 + bx + c with the x-axis
x
2
x
y
x
1
Example:
In the function f (x) = x2 - 3x - 4, the associated equation:
x2 - 3x - 4 = 0, has roots -1 and 4.
Then the parabola intersects the X axis at those points.
2.1. Roots of an equation of 2nd degree
Formula for determining the solutions (roots) of a
quadratic equation:
- b b
2
4ac

2a
x =
Example:
Determine the roots of the equation: x
2
- 3x - 4 = 0
-(-3) (-3)
2
41(- 4)

2
x =
3 9 + 16

2
x =
3 25

2
x =
2
x =
3 5

2
x =
8

2
x =
-2

x
1
= 4 x
2
= -1
You can also obtain the roots of the equation by
factoring the product of binomials:
x
2
- 3x - 4 = 0
(x - 4)(x + 1) = 0
(x - 4)= 0 (x + 1)= 0
x
1
= 4 x
2
= -1

2.2. Properties of the roots
If x1 and x2 are the roots of a quadratic equation of
the form ax2 + bx + c = 0, then:
-b

a
x
1
+ x
2
=
c

a
x
1
x
2
=

a
x
1
- x
2
=
1)
2)
3)
Given the roots or solutions of a quadratic equation, you
can determine the equation associated with them.

a (x - x1) (x - x2) = 0
In a quadratic equation, the discriminant
= b
2
- 4ac
a) If the discriminant is positive, then the quadratic
equation has two real solutions x1, x2 and distinct.
The parabola intersects at
two points to the axis X.
> 0
2.3. Discriminate
Provides information on the nature of the roots.
x1, x2 are real and
x1 x2
x
2
x
1
b) If the discriminant is negative, then the quadratic
equation has no real solution.
The parabola NO X axis
intersects
< 0
x1, x2 are complex
conjugates
x1 = x2
c) If the discriminant is zero, then the quadratic equation
has two real and equal roots.
The parabola intersects
at a single point to the
axis X.
= 0
x1, x2 are real and
x1 = x2
x
2
x
1
=

1.-Questions
2-Exercises:
a)y = x-2.
b)y=4x-3.
c)y=x-6+x.
d)Y=x-5x+6.
e)Y=9-x.