Quadratic Functions

Solving for x ex:


6x2-7=11x = 6x2-11x-7=0
6 7 1 3
1 1 7 2
(3x-7)(2x+1)=0
3x-7=0 2x+1=0
x=7/3 x=-(1/2)

Completing the square:


x2+2bx+b2 = (x+b)2
x2+2bx = (x+b)2-b2

in y=a(x=p)2+q, vertex=(-p,q), axis of symmetry=-p, if a>0 the
vertex is a minimum (parabola) and if a<0 the vertex is a
maximum

Finding x-intercepts for a parabola:

 factorise e.g. 0=(x+a)(x+b) intercepts=-a and –b
OR
 draw graph

Finding x from the completed square form ex:

 (x-2)2=1/2
x-2=(+-√1/2)
x=(+-√1/2)+2

Definitions:
 Parabola - U-shaped graph of a quadratic (a>0 = U-shape,
a<0 = upside-down U-shape
 Vertex - turning point (e.g. minimum or maximum)
 Discriminant - b2-4ac

Discriminant:
 b2-4ac>0 = 2 solutions (i.e. b2>4ac)
 b2-4ac=0 = 1 solution (i.e. b2=4ac)
 b2-4ac<0 = no solutions (b2<4ac)

Finding the vertex ex:

 y=x2+8x-1
 y=(x+4)2-17
Vertex=(-4,-17) (i.e. if y=(x+a)2+b, vertex=(-a,b)
 The smallest y can be is -17 (this is when x=4, y=(-4+4) 2-
17=-17)

To find the y-intercept from completed square form:

 Substitute x=0 into equation
 Vice-versa for the x-intercepts

Using the discriminant, ex (part 1):

 f(x)=x2-kx+9, where k is constant. Find the set of values of k
for which the equation f(x)=0 has no real solutions.
 Remember f(x)=ax2+bx+c
 b2<4ac
 (-k2=k2) k2<4x1x9
k<√4x1x9
k<±√36
k<±6
Substitute a value less than -6 into b2<4ac
Substitute a value less than 6 but greater than -6 into b 2<4ac
See which value fits (in this case it is the value less than 6
but greater than -6)
-6<k<6

Using the discriminant, ex (part 2):

 Write down the minimum value of f(x) and the value of x for
which this occurs, given that k=4.
 No solutions
 b2-4ac<0
 16-36<0
 -20<0

Simplify, ex:
 (9x2-64)/(x+4) x (x2-3x-28)/(3x+8)
((3x-8)(3x+8))/(x+4) x ((x-7)(x+4))/(3x+8)
((3x-8)(3x+8)(x-7)(x+4))/((x+4)(3x+8))
(3x-8)(x-7)