Algebra Tutorial- Quadratic Equation

Quadratic equations are of the from: Y= a+bx + c x.x

Take the example ; y= x.x + 5x + 6

To solve x.x + 5x + 6 =0 is easy.

Factorize: (x +3 )(x+2) = 0

[To learn factoring' study my earlier tutorial : Algebra Tutorial-factoring.]

The solution is: x+3 =0 or x = -3

and x+2 =0 or x =-2

We shall see the special forms of quadratic equations which have many uses.

Parabolas

Take y = c .X.X a=0; b=0 in the general equation.

let us plot a graph: Take c =1 Y = x.x parabola

Form a table: X Y 9

3 9 8
7
2 4
6
1 1
5
0 0
4
-1 1
3
-2 4
2
-3 9 1
Let us plot this graph: 0
This parabola has vertex at origin (o,o) and is symmetrical -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
about Y axis.
let us draw another parabola where c is negative. Y = -X.X Y = - x.x parabola
0
Form a table: X Y
-1
3 -9 -2
2 -4 -3
1 -1 -4

0 0 -5

-1 -1 -6

-2 -4 -7

-3 -9 -8

Let us plot this graph. -9

-3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1

what do you see now. this is also a prabola, but upside down.The apex
vertex
is at
is [0,0]
at (0,0)

To understand the construction of various parabolas and their equations, we will take up three operation

Translation[along X axis]
 Let me shift the parabola to the right . To translatealong
alongthe
X aixis,
x axis,shift
I shift the apex from X

let the new X be X-2

The equation becomes: Y = (X - 2 ).(X - 2 )

Let us form a table again: X Y Y = (x-2) ^2

9
5 9 8
4 4 7

3 1 6

2 0 5

1 1 4
3
0 4
2
-1 9 1
Let us plot the graph> 0
-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

What do you see? The parabola is shifted to the right and the apex
vertex
is atisx=2
at (2,0)
y=0

If I write Y = (x+2)(x+2) the parabola will be shifted to the left ,with apex at x=-2 Y=0.

X Y Y = (x + 2) ^ 2 parabola
1 9 9

8
0 4
7
-1 1 6
-2 0 5

-3 1 4

-4 4 3

2
-5 9 1

-5 -4.5 -4 -3.5 -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1

Translation along yaxis or vertical shift

It is easy to shift the parabola along the Y axis.

Simply add a number toto the equation.

Y = (x-2 ).(x-2) + 3 shifts the parabola above the Y =0 horizontal line by three units.
Y = (x-2 ).(x-2)
(x-2)+-33shifts
shiftes
the parabola
the parabola
abovebelow
the Ythe
=0Y=0
horizontal
horizontal
line line
by three
by three
units.
units.

Y= (x-2)^2 + 3
X Y=(x-2)(x-2)+3 12
5 12 11
4 7 10

3 4 9

2 3 8
Y=(x
1 4 7
6
0 7 5
-1 12 4

3
-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

X Y=(x-2)(x-2)-3 Y = (x -2)^2 -3
5 6 6
4 1 5
4
3
2
1
0
 Y = (x -2)^2 -3
6
5
3 -2 4
2 -3 3
1 -2
2
0 1
1
-1 6
0
-1
-2
-3
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5

We have seen
een tow
two operations:
operations.Sshifting
hiftingthe
to parabola
the left ortoright
rightand
or left
lifitng
[along
up orthe
down
X axis]
in the
and
vertica
shifti

Scaling
This operation contracts or expands the parabola.

Take the basic parabola again: y = x.x

Let us multiply with a constant k
Y = k x.x
Y = 2 x.x and Y = x.x
Take k= 2 Y = 2 x.x
Form a table: 18
X Y=2.x.x y = x.x
16
3 18 9
2 8 4 14
1 2 1
0 0 0 12
-1 2 1
-2 8 4 10
-3 18 9
8

6
This parabola is narrower when compared to y=x.x
4

0
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2

9
Next, let us plot the graph
graphofof Y= kx.x where k=1/2
8
Form a Table:
X Y=0.5*x*x y=x.x 7
3 4.5 9 6
2 2 4 5
1 0.5 1 4
0 0 0 3
-1 0.5 1 2
-2 2 4 1
-3 4.5 9 0
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2
This parabola, is wider than y=x.x Now you see the effect of k on the shape.'k' is called the shape facto
scaling factor.
General Equation for Parabola

We can now write the general equation for the Parabola:

Y = a (X - h )(X - h) + k

Here the scaling factor is 'a'

The parabola has the vertex at the point (h,k)
You have seen how this general equation is constructed. Keep this equation always in mind
you handle parabolas.

Do-it-yourself Exercises
You must practise drawing different parabolas using the general equation.
1 y= (x -1)^2+2

2 y= (x+1)^2 + 2

3 y= -(x+1)^2 - 3

4 y= -(x-3)^2 +3

5 y = 3(x+1)^2 +2

6 y= -2(x-1)^2 +2

The standard Equation for Parabola

Well..we started with the simple basic equation for a parabola: Y = X.X
Then we did three operations--translation or shifting along x axis;
translation or shifting along Y axis or lifitng the parabola up or down
and scaling,multiplying with a constant to change the shape of the parabola.
We arrived at the general equation: Y = a (x-h)(x-h) + k
With this we can plot any kind of parabola.
We seem to have lost our way in these manipulative exercises-shifting and scaling.
What is the standard equation for the parabola?
Y = a + b X + c X.X
How do we get this from the general equation of parabola given here.
This is simple. Y = a (x -h)^2 + k
Expanding the first term : Y = a (x.x - 2h.x + h.h) + k
Y= ax.x - 2ha.x + ah.h+k
Now we can see that the standarddfrom formemerges:
emerges.

Take the example: y=3(x+1)^2 +2

y= 3(x.x+2x+1) + 2
y= 3x.x +6x +3+2
y= 3x.x+6x +5 y= 5 + 6x+3x.x
Comparing with standard from: a=5 b=6 c=3

What about the reverse process?

Take the equation: y = 2x.x + 4x + 5
 a=2 b=4
b=-2ha=4
h=-1
h.h=1 ahh=2 ahh+k=5
k=3

Now we have founda=2 h=-1 k=3

The general equation can be written;
y= 2(x+1)^2+3
Another method is completing the sqaure: y= 2xx+4x +5
y= 2(xx+2x ) +5
y=2(xx +2x +1)-2+5
y= 2(x+1)^2 +3

Therefore there is no difference between the general equation for the parabola and the standard quadratic equatio

Do-it-yourself problems
1 Convert this equation
n into
inot general equationnand th
find the
andapex
findandthe
scaling
vertex.
factor for the parabola:
y= xx+6x+9
y= 2x.x+8x+12

Summary
We started with y=x.x and modified by translation along x axis and y axis and
scaling .
We also saw
thethat
parabola
the parabola
a can be
ebexpressed
can
expressed
be in in standard
in the standard
form ofform:
quadratic equation and also as an equatio

The standard form: Y= a =bx+cxx

The general equation for parabola: Y = a(x-h)(x-h) + k

Note: This tutorial and others are based on my extensive tutoring expereince at Palo Alto,Ca
Send your feedback and your suggestions.
 Y = x.x parabola

Column G

-1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

Y = - x.x parabola

-1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

will take up three operations.

 Y = (x-2) ^2

.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

pex at x=-2 Y=0.

+ 2) ^ 2 parabola

Column E

2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1

2)^2 + 3

Y=(x-2)(x-2)+3

5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

= (x -2)^2 -3

Y=(x-2)(x-2)-3
= (x -2)^2 -3

Y=(x-2)(x-2)-3

3 4 5

ng up or down in the vertical direction.

Y = 2 x.x and Y = x.x

Y=2.x.x
y = x.x

0 1 2 3

Y=0.5*x*x
y=x.x

-1 0 1 2 3
.'k' is called the shape factor. or

equation always in mind when

standard quadratic equation!

xis and y axis and

at Palo Altoo, California.