Chapter 5:

Quadratic
Functions
BY SIDDHARTH SISHTA AND SIENNA URBANSKI

Important Concepts to know (5.1)

A quadratic function is generally written in the form:

ax2 + bx+ c; where a 0

EXAMPLE:

x2 +2x + 8
a=1 b=2 c=8
What are the a,b, and c values for these quadratic expressions?
7x2 + x + 2
a=7 b=1 c=2

36x2 + 5x
a=36 b=5 c=0

Binomials (5.1)

A binomial is an algebraic expression where a sum or difference of

two terms is taken.

Examples: x+5

3+8

x-2

x2+1

Multiplying two binomials gives you a quadratic

(x+1)(x+4)= x2+4x+x+4=x2+5x+4

Try these:

(x+6)(x+2)

(x-2)(x+10)

x2+8x+12

x2+8x-20

Quadratics in Graphs (5.1)

A quadratic is always a parabola.

If the a value is positive, then it opens up.

If the a value is negative, then it opens down.

If it opens up, then the vertex is a minimum value.

(y=x2+4x+4)
If it opens down, then the vertex is a maximum value.

(y= -x2 +4x+6)

We can also find the x-intercept by setting the y-value to 0. Using the zero product
property, we can solve for the x-intercept.
y= (x2+4x+4)

y=(x+2)(x+2)

0= (x+2)(x+2)

x= -2

Solving Quadratics(5.2)

Properties of Square Roots

Product Property

Quotient Property

(ab)=(a)(b)

(a/b)= a / b

X2=a, and a0, then (+-)a

So most quadratic equations have two solutions.
Example: 1. 4x2+13=253

Try this:

7x2+10=1018
Ans: (+-)12

2. 4x2=240

3. x2=60

4. x=60

Factoring Quadratics (5.3)

When factoring normal quadratics, ALWAYS FACTOR GCF FIRST!

Then look for the integers that equal the following:

R(S)=c

R+S=b

x2+5x+4
The factors of 4 that add up to 5 are 4 and 1. So the two factors of the
quadratic would be (x+4)(x+1)
X2+3x-10= (x+5)(x-2)
2x2+14x+20= 2(x2+7x+10)=2(x+5)(x+2)

Factoring Special Quadratics (5.3)

Difference of two squares

a2-b2 = (a+b)(a-b)

X2 -100 = (x+10)(x-10)

64-x2 = (8+x)(8-x)

Perfect square trinomials: a2+2ab+b2

1.

Is the first term in the trinomial a perfect square?

2.

Is the third term a perfect square?

3.

Is the middle term twice the product of the square roots of the first and last terms?

X2+4x+4
(x+2)(x+2)
(x+2)2

Try these:

x2-6x+9

4x2+4x+1

(x-3)(x-3)

(2x+1)(2x+1)

(x-3)2

(2x+1)2

Factoring Special Quadratics (5.3)

For 2nd degree trinomials where a does not =1

BRITISH METHOD: 3x2+14x+15

MELLISA METHOD: 3x2+14x+45

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

1. Multiply the first and last terms. Then

rewrite as x2+14+45.
2. Find the factors of 45 that add up to 14.
(5 and 9). Then rewrite as (x+5)(x+9)
3. Divide the 2nd term by the a value of
the original problem. (x+5/3)(x+9/3)
4. If the number divides evenly, then simplify
it. (x+3)
5. If it does not, then put the denominator in
front of the x. (3x+5)
6. ANS. (x+3)(3x+5)

Multiply the first and last terms.

Find the factors of 45 that add up to 14. (5 and 9)
Then, rewrite the expression as 3x2+9x+5x+15
Factor by grouping. 3x(x+3)+5(x+3)
ANS. (x+3)(3x+5)

Completing the Square (5.4)

General form =

x2+bx+(b/2)2 = (x+b/2)2

To complete the square:

x2+8x

1.

Take half of the coefficient of the x term. (8/2=4)

2.

Square that amount and add it. 42=16

3.

X2+8x+16 or (x+4)2

Try this: x2+9x

x2+9x+20.25 or (x+4.5)2
You can use this to solve some equations:
X2+4x+4=36

(x+2)2=36
X+2= +-6

x=4 or -8

x2 + 4x=32

The Quadratic Formula (5.5)

This is the quadratic formula : =

This equation easily allows you to find the value for x if factoring is not easy to do. (You
can only use this equation if the other side of the equal sign is 0)
Plug in the a,b,c values in the equation to find the answer.
X2+7x+9=0

a=1 b=7 c=9

()()
;
()

when this is simplified, it equals x=

Try these: x2+6x-21

x= -3120

x2+3x=2-2x
x2+5x-2=0
x=

713
2

Axis of Symmetry (5.5)

The axis of symmetry equation is -(b/2a)

The axis of symmetry can be used to find the vertex of the parabola.
X2+8x+10
X= -(8/2)

a=1 b=8 c=10

x=-4

Plug in the x value into the equation to solve for y.

(-4)2+8(-4)+10=y
16-36+10=y
-10=y

Vertex= (-4,-10)

Complex Numbers (5.6)

Whenever a negative is under the radical symbol, the solutions to it are imaginary.

The expression b2-4ac is called the discriminant of a quadratic equation.

1.

If discriminant is >0, then it has real, irrational answers.

2.

If discriminant is=0, then it has real, rational answers.

3.

If discriminant is <0, then it has imaginary answers.

An imaginary number is written as ir; where r>0, and the expression is -r.

Conjugates (5.6)

A complex number is a+bi, where a and b are real and i is -1. a is the real part and bi
together is called is imaginary part.
Conjugates are two complex numbers that have the same real part but opposite imaginary
parts.
Ex: (5-3i) and (5+3i)
When adding or subtracting complex numbers, the real and imaginary parts are added
separately.
(2+5i)+(8+3i)=10+8i
2+5i-(8+3i)= -6+2i
You multiply complex numbers the same way you multiply real binomials.
(8+4i)(5-6i)=40-48i+20i-24i2
40-28i-24(-1)
40-28i+24
64-28i
Try these: (5+7i)(7-6i)
(7+13i)+(6-7i)
35+49i-30i-42i2
13+6i
77+19i

Conjugates (5.6)

You can use conjugates to find

real answers out of imaginary
numbers.

(2-3i)(2+3i)
4+6i-6i-9i2

4-9i2
4-9(-1)
4+9

13

This can also be used to remove

complex numbers from the
denominator.

Quadratic Inequalities (5.7)

Graphing solutions to quadratic inequalities: x2+11x+24 0

1.

Change it into an equation. (x2+11x+24=0)

2.

Find the x values using factoring or quadratic formula.(x+8)(x+3)=0

3.

Solve for x. (x= -8)

4.

If the inequality sign is > or , then it is an OR inequality. Where any and all the values
covered by the arrows are solutions.

5.

If the inequality sign is < or , then it is an AND inequality. Where all the values
covered by BOTH arrows are solutions.

(x= -3)

The solution to the first one will be:

(Less than the lower value and greater than the higher value)
x -8

x -3

Quadratic Inequalities in Graphs

(5.7)

When:

<

>

Dashed line

Dashed line

Solid line

Solid line

Below the curve

Above the curve

Below the curve

Above the curve

Quadratic Inequalities in Graphs

(5.7)

Example:

y (x-2)2+1
Vertex is (2,1)
We know that it opens up.
Graph it. (Using a calculator or a T-Chart.)
You draw a solid line and shade above the curve of the parabola.
Pick an easy point that is in the shade and plug the ordered pair back into the equation to
check whether it is a solution or not.