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1b-4 Sketching Quadratic Graphs

This document provides instructions for sketching graphs of quadratic functions: - The graph of y=ax^2+bx+c is a parabola that has a line of symmetry and shape that depends on whether a is positive or negative. - To sketch the graph, find where it intersects the x- and y-axes by substituting values into the function. - Turning points occur where the gradient is 0, and can be found using the completed square form of the function. - Examples show how to sketch the graphs of specific quadratic functions by finding the intersections and turning points.

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Elsa Xu
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223 views4 pages

1b-4 Sketching Quadratic Graphs

This document provides instructions for sketching graphs of quadratic functions: - The graph of y=ax^2+bx+c is a parabola that has a line of symmetry and shape that depends on whether a is positive or negative. - To sketch the graph, find where it intersects the x- and y-axes by substituting values into the function. - Turning points occur where the gradient is 0, and can be found using the completed square form of the function. - Examples show how to sketch the graphs of specific quadratic functions by finding the intersections and turning points.

Uploaded by

Elsa Xu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sketching quadratic graphs

A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 1b. Quadratic functions – factorising, solving, graphs and the discriminants

Key points
 The graph of the quadratic function
y = ax2 + bx + c, where a ≠ 0, is a curve
called a parabola.
for a > 0 for a < 0
 Parabolas have a line of symmetry and
a shape as shown.
 To sketch the graph of a function, find the points where the graph intersects the axes.
 To find where the curve intersects the y-axis substitute x = 0 into the function.
 To find where the curve intersects the x-axis substitute y = 0 into the function.
 At the turning points of a graph the gradient of the curve is 0 and any tangents to the curve at
these points are horizontal.
 To find the coordinates of the maximum or minimum point (turning points) of a quadratic
curve (parabola) you can use the completed square form of the function.

Examples
Example 1 Sketch the graph of y = x2.

The graph of y = x2 is a parabola.

When x = 0, y = 0.

a = 1 which is greater
than zero, so the graph
has the shape:

Example 2 Sketch the graph of y = x2 − x − 6.

When x = 0, y = 02 − 0 − 6 = −6 1 Find where the graph intersects the


So the graph intersects the y-axis at y-axis by substituting x = 0.
(0, −6)
When y = 0, x2 − x − 6 = 0 2 Find where the graph intersects the
x-axis by substituting y = 0.
(x + 2)(x − 3) = 0 3 Solve the equation by factorising.

x = −2 or x = 3 4 Solve (x + 2) = 0 and (x − 3) = 0.

So, 5 a = 1 which is greater


the graph intersects the x-axis at (−2, 0) than zero, so the graph
and (3, 0) has the shape:

(continued on next page)


6 To find the turning point, complete
2
 1 1 the square.
x  2  4 6
x2 − x − 6 =  
2
 1  25
 x   
= 2 4
2 7 The turning point is the minimum
 1 1 value for this expression and occurs
x  0 x 
When  2 , 2 and when the term in the bracket is
25 equal to zero.
y
4 , so the turning point is at the
 1 25 
 , 
point  2 4 

Practice
1 Sketch the graph of y = −x2.

2 Sketch each graph, labelling where the curve crosses the axes.
a y = (x + 2)(x − 1) b y = x(x − 3) c y = (x + 1)(x + 5)

3 Sketch each graph, labelling where the curve crosses the axes.
a y = x2 − x − 6 b y = x2 − 5x + 4 c y = x2 – 4
d y = x2 + 4x e y = 9 − x2 f y = x2 + 2x − 3

4 Sketch the graph of y = 2x2 + 5x − 3, labelling where the curve crosses the axes.

Extend
5 Sketch each graph. Label where the curve crosses the axes and write down the coordinates of the
turning point.
a y = x2 − 5x + 6 b y = −x2 + 7x − 12 c y = −x2 + 4x

6 Sketch the graph of y = x2 + 2x + 1. Label where the curve crosses the axes and write down the
equation of the line of symmetry.
Answers
1

2 a b c

3 a b c

d e f
4

5 a b c

Line of symmetry at x = −1.

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