Unit #3 Quadratics
Standard Form
Learning Goals
- Find the x-intercepts using the quadratic formula
- using the AOS value to find the y- intercept
- completing the square (finding the MAX or MIN value
- solve word problems using the quadratic formula/ completing the square
Summary
This final unit is very simple. The main concepts to go over are using the quadratic formula and completing the squares. These methods help you find the values that will ultimately make it easier for you to graph your parabola. This unit connects back to Unit #1, using VERTEX FORM. Completing the square is simply converting the standard form equation to vertex form in order to find the vertex of the parabola. In order to do this, you must follow along with the steps provided below. The quadratic formula will help you find the x-intercepts of the equation which you can further use to find the axis of symmetry. Thus, you will have the x-value of your vertex. Plug the AOS value into the original standard form equation and you should find the y-intercept of your parabola. This is one way of finding the vertex besides completing the square. Within the quadratic formula, you can find the formula for the DISCRIMINANT which tells you how many solutions can be found from an equation. If your discriminant is more and 1, there will be 2 solutions. If your discriminant is 0, there will be 1 solution and if your discriminant is less and 0, there will be no solution. The discriminant formula is D= b²- 4ac.
Some key points to remember are:
- That the value of a gives you the shape and direction of opening of the parabola
- The value of c is y-intercept of the parabola
- You can rewrite a quadratic relation of the form y= ax² + bx+c in the form y=a(x-h)+k by completing the square
- The values (h,k) in vertex form represent the maximum and minimum point of the parabola
- The vertex is a minimum point when a>0 and a maximum point when a<0.
Quadratic Formula
Example
*The first thing you should do I write down everything you know just by looking at the equation.*
a= -5 b= 8 c= -3
*Now substitute the values into the equations.*
Once you find the AOS value, substitute that into the original standard form equation to solve for the y-intercept, as shown below.
Word Problem using the Quadratic Formula
a) How far has the ball travelled horizontally, to the nearest tenth of a metre, when it lands on the ground?
*Keep in mind that there can never be a negative distance, so you must use the positive solution.*
The Discriminant
The discriminant can be used to determine how many solutions an equation will have. The formula for finding the discriminant is D= b²- 4ac. The discriminant can be used to determine how many solutions an equation will have. The formula for finding the discriminant is D= b²- 4ac. You must substitute the values from your original equation to solve for the discriminant. If the discriminant is more than 0 that means that there will be 2 solutions. If the discriminant is 0 then there will be 1 solution. Finally, if the discriminant is less than 0 there will be no solution (in other words, no x-intercepts).
Example:
D=3²-4(2)(-5)
D=9-4(-10)
D=9+40
D=49
This means that there 2 solutions.
D=2²-4(1)(1)
D=4-4
D=0
This means there 1 solutions.
D=2²-4(5)(2)
D=4-4(10)
D=4-40
D=36
This means there are no solutions.
Completing the Square
STANDARD FORM ---------> VERTEX FORM
This method is used to find the vertex form of the standard form equation. It is also really useful for finding the maximum or minimum value of an equation. To complete the squares you must first make sure that the value of a is 1. If it is not, then you must factor it out of the equation. The next step is to divide the value of b by 2 and then square it. Add this value beside b. Then you must place brackets around your equation while leaving c on the outside. Next, take the number you got from dividing b by 2 and squaring it, and subtract it (or add it depending on the situation) from c. this is complete, simply your equation.
Example: Rewrite y= x² + 8x + 5 in the form y= a(x-h)² + k.
y= x² + 8x + 5
y= (x²+ 8x) + 5
b=8
8/2= (4)² =16
y= (x²+ 8x +16 -16) +5
y= (x²+ 8x +16) -16 + 5
y= (x + 4)² - 11
By looking at the vertex form equation, you can easily find the vertex ( -4, -11) which can help you graph your parabola. This vertex tells you the MINIMUM value of the parabola.
For more examples, watch the video below.
Word Problems using Completing the Squares
a) What is the maximum height of the ball, and at what horizontal distance does it occur?
*Do NOT forget to write your therefore statement at the end.*