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3.1: Quadratic Functions

  • Page ID
    203402
    • Roy Simpson, Cosumnes River College
    • OpenStax

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    Prerequisite Skills
    • Solving Equations
      • Solving Absolute Value Equations
    • Quadratic Functions
      • Vertex Form and Completing the Square

    Recognizing Characteristics of Parabolas

    Definition: Parabola

    The shape in the following figure is called a parabola. Every parabola has one extreme point called the vertex. If the parabola opens up, the vertex represents the lowest point on the graph, or the minimum value of the parabola. If the parabola opens down, the vertex represents the highest point on the graph, or the maximum value. In either case, the vertex is a turning point on the graph. The graph is also symmetric with a vertical line drawn through the vertex, called the axis of symmetry. These features are illustrated in following figure.

    Graph of a parabola showing where the x and y intercepts, vertex, and axis of symmetry are.

    Definition: Zeros of Functions and Roots of Equations

    A zero of a function \( f(x) \) is any value of \( x \) for which \( f(x) = 0 \). In other words, it's where the function's graph intersects the \( x \)-axis. A root of the equation \( f(x) = 0 \) is any value of \( x \) that satisfies the equation, meaning it makes the equation true.

    In informal practice, most people use the terms zero and root interchangeably.

    MyOpenMath \( \PageIndex{ 9 } \)

    Quadratic Functions in General Form

    Definition: General Form of a Quadratic Function

    The general form of a quadratic function is\[ f(x) = a x^2 + bx + c, \nonumber \]where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are real numbers and \( a \neq 0 \).

    Theorem: Quadratic Formula

    The roots of the equation\[ ax^2 + bx + c = 0, \nonumber \]where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are real numbers and \( a \neq 0 \), are given by\[ x = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}. \nonumber \]

    Proof
    Suppose \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are real numbers, where \( a \neq 0 \). Then\[ \begin{array}{rrclcl}
    & ax^2 + bx + c & = & 0 & & \\[6pt]
    \implies & ax^2 + bx & = & -c & \quad & \left( \text{subtracting }c\text{ from both sides} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & x^2 + \dfrac{b}{a}x & = & -\dfrac{c}{a} & \quad & \left( \text{dividing both sides by }a, \text{ where }a \neq 0 \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & x^2 + \dfrac{b}{a}x + \left( \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 & = & -\dfrac{c}{a} + \left( \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 & \quad & \left( \text{completing the square on the left side by adding }\left( \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 \text{ to both sides} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & \left(x + \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 & = & -\dfrac{c}{a} + \left( \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 & \quad & \left( \text{factoring the left side} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & \left(x + \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 & = & -\dfrac{c}{a} + \dfrac{b^2}{4a^2} & \quad & \left( \text{Laws of Exponents} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & \left(x + \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 & = & -\dfrac{4ac}{4a^2} + \dfrac{b^2}{4a^2} & \quad & \left( \text{getting common denominators by multiplying numerator and denominator of the first term by }4a \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & \left(x + \dfrac{b}{2a} \right)^2 & = & \dfrac{b^2 - 4ac}{4a^2} & \quad & \left( \text{combining fractions with like denominators} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & x + \dfrac{b}{2a} & = & \pm \sqrt{\dfrac{b^2 - 4ac}{4a^2}} & \quad & \left( \text{Extraction of Roots} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & x + \dfrac{b}{2a} & = & \pm \dfrac{\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2\sqrt{a^2}} & \quad & \left( \text{Properties of Radicals} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & x + \dfrac{b}{2a} & = & \pm \dfrac{\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} & \quad & \left( \sqrt{a^2} = \pm a, \text{ but this gets "absorbed" into the }\pm\text{ out front} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & x & = & - \dfrac{b}{2a} \pm \dfrac{\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} & \quad & \left( \text{subtracting }\dfrac{b}{2a} \text{ from both sides} \right) \\[6pt]
    \implies & x & = & \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} & \quad & \left( \text{combining fractions with like denominators} \right) \\[6pt]
    \end{array} \nonumber \]
    Theorem: Axis of Symmetry for a Quadratic Function

    The vertical line, \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \), is the axis of symmetry for the graph of the quadratic function \( f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c \), where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are real numbers and \( a \neq 0 \).

    Proof
    To avoid complications, we only submit the proof for two cases: the quadratic function has one zero or it has two real zeros (the case for no real zeros can be derived geometrically from the latter case).
    Case 1 (1 Zero): Suppose the quadratic function has only one zero. Then the Quadratic Formula must return \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{0}}{2a} = -\frac{b}{2a} \) (if the radicand in the numerator was not 0, the Quadratic Formula would return two zeros, \( x = \frac{-b + \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \) and \( x = \frac{-b - \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \)). Hence, the vertex of the parabola (where the axis of symmetry crosses) occurs when \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \). That is, the axis of symmetry is \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \).
    Case 2 (2 Real Zeros): Suppose the quadratic function has two real zeros. Then the Quadratic Formula shows us that these occur at \( x = \frac{-b + \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \) and \( x = \frac{-b - \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \). Since a parabola is symmetric about its axis of symmetry, the axis of symmetry must be halfway between these two \( x \)-values. Averaging the zeros for our function, we get\[ \begin{array}{rclcl}
    \dfrac{\frac{-b + \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} + \frac{-b - \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}}{2} & = & \dfrac{\frac{-b + \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} + \frac{-b - \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}}{2} \cdot \dfrac{2a}{2a} & \quad & \left( \text{simplifying the compound rational expression} \right) \\[6pt]
    & = & \dfrac{-b + \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac} - b - \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{4a} & \quad & \left( \text{distributing} \right) \\[6pt]
    & = & \dfrac{-2b}{4a} & \quad & \left( \text{simplifying} \right) \\[6pt]
    & = & -\dfrac{b}{2a} & \quad & \left( \text{simplifying} \right) \\[6pt]
    \end{array} \nonumber \]Hence, the axis of symmetry is \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \).
    Theorem: Coordinates of the Vertex

    The vertex of the quadratic function \( f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c \) is located at the point \( \left( -\frac{b}{2a}, f\left( -\frac{b}{2a} \right) \right) \).

    Proof
    Since the vertex occurs where the axis of symmetry intersects the graph of the quadratic function, the \( x \)-coordinate of this intersection is \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \). The corresponding \( y \)-coordinate is \( f\left( -\frac{b}{2a} \right) \).
    MyOpenMath \(\PageIndex{19}\)

    Quadratic Functions in Standard Form

    Definition: Standard Form of a Quadratic Function

    The standard form of a quadratic function is\[ f(x) = a \left( x - h \right)^2 + k, \nonumber \]where \( a \), \( h \), and \( k \) are real numbers and \( a \neq 0 \). This is also known as vertex form.

    Theorem: Vertex of a Quadratic Function in Standard Form

    The vertex of the quadratic function given in the standard form\[ f(x) = a \left( x - h \right)^2 + k \nonumber \]is \( \left( h,k \right) \).

    Example

    Write the equation of the graph from MyOpenMath \( \PageIndex{9}\).

    Example

    Rewrite the quadratic function \( f(x) = -3x^2 + 6x - 2 \) in standard (vertex) form by Completing the Square.

    Finding the Domain and Range of a Quadratic Function

    Theorem: Domain and Range of a Quadratic Function

    The domain of any quadratic function is all real numbers.

    The range of a quadratic function written in general form, \(f(x)=a x^2 +bx+c\), with a positive \(a\) value is \(f(x) \geq f\left( -\frac{b}{2a} \right)\), or \(\left[ f\left( -\frac{b}{2a} \right), \infty \right)\).

    The range of a quadratic function written in general form with a negative \(a\) value is \(f(x) \leq f\left( -\frac{b}{2a} \right)\), or \(\left( -\infty , f\left( -\frac{b}{2a} \right) \right]\).

    The range of a quadratic function written in standard form, \(f(x)=a (x-h)^2 +k\), with a positive \(a\) value is \(f(x) \geq k\); the range of a quadratic function written in standard form with a negative \(a\) value is \(f(x) \leq k\).

    MyOpenMath \( \PageIndex{ 7 } \)

    Determining the Maximum and Minimum Values of Quadratic Functions

    MyOpenMath \( \PageIndex{ 18 } \)

    MyOpenMath \( \PageIndex{ 18 } \)

    Solving Quadratic Equations

    MyOpenMath \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Solving Quadratic Inequalities

    Definition: Quadratic Inequality

    A quadratic inequality is an inequality that contains a quadratic expression. This inequality can be written in any of the following forms:\[ \begin{array}{lcl}
    a x^2+b x+c <0 & \quad & a x^2+b x+c \leq 0 \\[6pt]
    a x^2+b x+c>0 & \quad & a x^2+b x+c \geq 0 \\[6pt]
    \end{array} \nonumber \]

    MyOpenMath \( \PageIndex{11} \)

    Graphing Absolute Values of Quadratics

    MyOpenMath \(\PageIndex{16}\)

    Focus on Calculus - Solving Equations that are Quadratic-in-Form

    Definition: Quadratic-in-Form

    An equation that can be written in the form\[ a\left[ f(x) \right]^2 + b f(x) + c = 0 \nonumber \]is called an equation that is quadratic-in-form.

    MyOpenMath \( \PageIndex{ 13} \)


    This page titled 3.1: Quadratic Functions is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Roy Simpson, Cosumnes River College (OpenStax) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.