MOVING THE AXIS OF SYMMETRY
1 The graph shows y = x2. Complete tables of values for two other parabolas then graph and compare
the results with y = x2.
Graph 1: y = (x – 6)2 Graph 2: y = (x + 4)2
x 2 3 5 6 7 9 10 x –8 –7 –5 –4 –3 –1 0
y y
2 What is the equation for the axis of symmetry of each curve?
Axis for y = x2 Axis for y = (x – 6)2 Axis for y = (x + 4)2
x=0
3 Make a general statement comparing the graph of y = x2 with y = (x – h)2. Include the equation of the
parabola for y = (x – h)2 in your statement.
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TRANSFORMING PARABOLAS Stretching, reflecting and translating
TASK 1 Effect of multiplying by a positive value
Graph these equations to explore the effect of multiplying y = (x – 2)2 by a positive value.
1
Graph 1: y = 4(x – 2)2 Graph 2: y = (x – 2)2
2
x 0 1 11 2 21 3 4 x –2 0 1 2 3 4 6
2 2
y y
1 What is the axis of symmetry of each of the
parabolas?
2 What is the turning point (vertex) of each of
the parabolas?
3 Describe the effect of a > 0 in y = a(x – 2)2.
TASK 2 Effect of multiplying by a negative value
Graph these equations to explore the effect of multiplying y = (x – 2)2 by a negative value.
Graph 1: y = –(x – 2)2 Graph 2: y = –4(x – 2)2
1
x –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x 1 11 2 21 3 31
2 2 2 2
y y
1 What is the axis of symmetry of each of the
parabolas?
2 What is the turning point (vertex) of each of
the parabolas?
3 Describe the effect of a in y = a(x – 2)2, where
a < 0.
TASK 3 Effect of including a constant term
Graph these equations to explore the effect of including a constant term other than 0 in y = (x – 2)2.
Graph 1: y = (x – 2)2 + 3 Graph 2: y = (x – 2)2 – 4
x –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x –2 0 1 2 3 4 6
y y
1 What is the axis of symmetry of each of the
parabolas?
2 What is the turning point (vertex) of each of
the parabolas?
3 Describe the effect of k in y = (x – 2)2 + k.
TASK 4 Summary
Summarise your findings by describing the information that can be gained about the graphs from the
values of a, h and k in the equation y = a(x – h)2 + k. Link your descriptions to transformations of the
basic parabola y = x2.
THE TURNING POINT FORMULA
Use the turning point formula for any parabola y = a(x – h)2 + k to complete these tasks.
TASK 1 Reading equations
For each parabolic equation, write the vertex, the axis of symmetry and whether the parabola will be
concave up (upright or cupped up) or concave down (inverted or cupped down).
a y = 3(x – 5)2 + 2 b y = (x + 5)2 + 2 c y = –(x – 5)2 – 2
Vertex = (____ , ____)
Axis of sym: ___________
Concave __________
1
d y = –3(x + 8)2 e y= (x – 20)2 f y = x2 + 19
4
9 2 1 2
g y = 7 – (x – 5)2 h y = 10 –
5
x i y = –(x –
2
)
TASK 2 Writing equations
There are many parabolas with vertex at (1, 3), eg y = (x –1)2 + 3 and y = –7(x – 1)2 + 3.
Write at least two equations for each of the following conditions for parabolas.
a Vertex at (5, 0) and concave up. ____________________________________________________
b Vertex at (–8, –10) and concave down _______________________________________________
c Axis of symmetry x = 4 and concave up ______________________________________________
d Axis of symmetry x = 0 and concave down ___________________________________________
TASK 3 Transforming y = x2
In y = a(x – h)2 + k, each of the values a, h and k transform the basic equation y = x2 in a different way.
Describe the transformations on y = x2 represented by each of the following equations. The first
question is completed as an example for you.
a y = –2(x – 5)2 + 3 b y = (x + 8)2
Reflected in x-axis.
Stretched.
Translated 5 right.
Translated 3 up.
c y = (x – 4)2 – 7 d y = 12 – 9x2
TASK 4 Quick sketches
To draw a quick sketch of any parabola you can use the vertex, the y-intercept and then check the
concavity when the drawing is complete. To find the y-intercept, remember to find y when x = 0.
Without grid paper, draw a quick sketch of each parabola and mark the vertex and the y-intercept.
a y = (x – 4)2 – 7 b y = –2(x + 1)2 + 5
PROBLEMS WITH ARROWS
1 An arrow was shot into the air. The height, h metres, of the arrow above the ground at any time,
t seconds, is given by the formula h = –(t – 6)2 + 42. The included sketch may be useful.
a Using the vertex of this parabola, what was the
maximum height reached by the arrow and at
what time was this?
b From what height was the arrow initially fired?
(Hint: ‘Initially’ means ‘at the start’, so t = 0).
c How high above the ground was the arrow after 2 seconds?
d How high above the ground was the arrow after 10 seconds?
e How do the answers to (c) and (d) relate to the answers for (a)?
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f Challenge: How long will it take the arrow to hit the ground? (Hint: The arrow hits the ground
when its height is zero metres.)
2 Challenge: Another arrow’s height can be determined at any given time using the formula
h = –a(t – n)2 + p, where a, n and p are unknown numbers.
Find the equation of its path if the arrow was initially fired from a height of 1 metre and it reached
a maximum height of 28 m after 9 seconds.
X-INTERCEPTS FROM FACTORS
TASK 1 Using factors
Determine the x-intercepts of these parabolas.
1 y = (x – 4)(x – 10) 2 y = (x + 4)(x – 10) 3 y = (x + 4)2
1
4 y = 4x(x – 49) 5 y = (x – )(x + 7) 6 y = (4x – 3)(12 – x)
2
TASK 2 Factorising
Factorise the quadratic expressions in these equations to determine the x-intercepts of their parabolas.
1 y = x2 + 6x + 8 2 y = x2 – 6x + 8 3 y = x2 + 2x – 8
4 y = x2 – 2x – 8 5 y = –x2 – 6x – 8 6 y = x2 + 11x + 24
7 y = x2 – x – 30 8 y = x2 – x 9 y = 3x2 – 12x – 63
10 y = x2 – 14x + 49 11 y = x2 – 49 12 y = 50 – 2x2
TASK 3 No x-intercepts
Without graphing the parabola for y = x2 + 10, explain how you know that it will have no x-intercepts.
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SKETCHING PARABOLAS USING FACTORS
TASK 1 Draw a rough sketch
For each of the following equations:
factorise the quadratic expression to find the x-intercepts
determine the y-intercept by letting x = 0
determine the coordinates of the vertex using the mean of the two x-intercepts
sketch the parabola
a y = x2 + 8x + 15
b y = x2 – 16
c y = –x2 + 5x
d y = x2 – 10 + 25
TASK 2 Write the equation
1 Write the equation for each of these parabolas in general form y = ax2 + bx + c. Assume the value
of a is either 1 or –1.
a b c
2 Challenge: Use the information in each sketch to determine the equation of its parabola. Write the
equation in both the factored form and in the general form y = ax2 + bx + c.
b
REARRANGING PARABOLIC EQUATIONS
TASK 1 Expanding
Expand each of these equations to rewrite them in the general form.
a y = (x + 5)2 + 8 b y = –(x + 5)2 + 8 c y = 3(x – 2)2 – 10
TASK 2 Completing the square
Rewrite each of these equations in turning point form.
a y = x2 + 6x + 1 b y = x2 – 6x + 1
c y = x2 – 8x d y = x2 – 12x + 36
e y = x2 – x f y = x2 + 9x – 7
2 2
g Challenge: y = 4x + 24x + 8 h Challenge: y = –x + 10x + 1
SKETCHING BY COMPLETING THE SQUARE
For each of the following equations:
determine whether the parabola is concave up or down
find the y-intercepts by letting x = 0
read the vertex from the equation, completing the square where necessary
determine the x-intercepts if they exist by letting y = 0
sketch the parabola
1 y = (x + 4)2 – 1
2 y = x2 – 6x + 2
3 y = x2 – 10x + 25
4 Challenge: y = –x2 + 5x
EXAMINING THE DISCRIMINANT
TASK 1 Number of intercepts
Calculate the discriminant for the quadratic expression in each of these equations. The sketches are not
to scale, but they do correctly convey the position of the parabola on the axes.
1 a y = x2 + 5x – 7 b y = –3x2 – 2x
b2 – 4ac =
c y = –x2 – 4x + 21 d y = 4x2 – 5
2 a y = x2 + 5x + 7 b y = –3x2 – 2x – 5
c y = –x2 – 4x – 21 d y = 4x2 + 5
3 a y = x2 + 6x + 9 b y = –4x2 + 20x – 25
4 In the examples above, compare the value of the discriminant to the sketch for each parabola.
Comment on how the discriminant can be used to determine the number of x-intercepts.
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TASK 2 Nature of intercepts
1 Each of these parabolas has x-intercepts that are rational. Determine the discriminant of each.
a y = x2 – 4x – 12 b y = –3x2 – 2x c y = –x2 – 4x + 21
2 Comment on your findings.
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TASK 3 Using the discriminant
1 Find the discriminant for each of the quadratic expressions in these equations and thereby
determine the number of x-intercepts and their nature (rational or irrational).
a y = x2 – 5x – 10 b y = x2 – 5x + 10 c y = x2 – 10x – 39
∆=
x-intercepts x-intercepts x-intercepts
Rational/Irrational Rational/Irrational Rational/Irrational
d y = 2x2 + 9x + 5 e y = x2 – 26x + 169 f y = 3x2 + 2x–1
x-intercepts x-intercepts x-intercepts
Rational/Irrational Rational/Irrational Rational/Irrational
2 Determine at least one value that will complete each of these equations to satisfy the description of
the x-intercepts. Challenge: Determine the range of values for equations (a) and (b).
a y = x2 + 3x + b y = x2 + x+6 c y= x2 – 24x + 16
Two different x-intercepts No x-intercepts One x-intercept
SKETCHING USING THE FORMULA
For each of the following equations:
determine whether the parabola is concave up or down
find the y-intercepts by letting x = 0
determine the x-intercepts if they exist by letting y = 0 and using the quadratic formula
use the formula for the axis of symmetry to determine the vertex
sketch the parabola
a y = –x2 – 4x + 21
b y = 4x2 – 20x + 25
c y = x2 + 5x + 7
d y = 3x2 + 5x – 7
A BRIDGE PROBLEM
The height of a bridge arch spanning a river is given by the formula:
1
h d (d 600)
5000
where h is the height of the arch above the river and d is the distance from the bank of the river
(Both measures are in metres.)
Hint: To solve the following problems, draw in a horizontal axis at river level and a vertical axis on
the left river bank.
a How wide is the river?
b What is the maximum height the span reaches above the river?
c The arch meets the road level 60 metres from the bank. What is the height of the road above the
river?
TEMPERATURE PROBLEMS
In an experiment, the temperature in a chamber is designed to change with time according to the
formula:
p = 3t2 –18t + 5
where p is the temperature in °C after a given time, t, measured in hours.
1 What is the initial temperature in the chamber (ie when t = 0)?
2 What is the temperature after 2 hours?
3 At what times does the temperature reach zero? Give sensible approximations for your answers.
4 What is the minimum temperature reached in the chamber? At what time is this reached?
5 The experiment is terminated when the temperature reaches 45°. For how long does the
experiment run?
6 Draw a sketch showing the temperature as time varies.
VISUAL VERSUS SYMBOLIC
Examine two ways to determine the intersection of a line with a parabola.
TASK 1 Graphical solution
Find the point(s) of intersection of the line y 6 x with the parabola y x 2 .
a Complete the tables of values then plot points to graph the
two equations
y = x2
x –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
y
y=6–x
x 0 1 4
y
b What are the point(s) of intersection of the parabola and
the line?
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TASK 2 Algebraic solution
Find the simultaneous solution(s) of the equations y 6 x and y x 2 .
TASK 3 Testing
Is (4, 1) a point of intersection of the graphs of y 3x2 5x 60 and y 9 2 x ? Explain your reasoning.
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READING SOLUTIONS FROM GRAPHS
Use the graphs to approximate the simultaneous solutions to each pair of equations. Use your
calculator to check your answers and refine if necessary. The first example has been completed.
Example:
1
a y = x2 and y = x + 1
Approximations: x = 1.6, y = 2.6 and x = –0.6 , y = 0.4
Check:
When x = 1.6 When x = –0.6
y = x2 y= x + 1 y = x2 y =x+1
= 2.56 = 2.6 = 0.36 = 0.4
Note: Both substitutions give close values for y.
b y = x2 and y = 3 – x
2
x
a y = –x2 – 2x + 5.25 and y =
5
x
b y = –x2 – 2x + 5.25 and y = - +4
2
