Section 9.3 Graphing Quadratic Expressions
We have learned how to visually locate the key features of quadratic graphs and how to find the vertex algebraically. In this section we’ll explore how to find the intercepts algebraically and use their coordinates to more precisely graph a quadratic equation. Then we will see how to interpret the key features in context and distinguish between quadratic and other graphs.
Let’s start by looking at a quadratic equation that models the path of a baseball after it is hit by Ignacio, the batter. The height of the baseball, measured in feet, after seconds is given by We know the graph will have the shape of a parabola and we want to know the initial height, the maximum height, and the amount of time it takes for the ball to hit the ground if it is not caught. These important ideas correspond to the vertical intercept, the vertex, and one of the horizontal intercepts.
The graph of this equation is shown in Figure 2. We cannot easily read where the intercepts occur from the graph because they are not integers. We previously covered how to determine the vertex algebraically. In this section, we’ll learn how to find the intercepts algebraically. Then we’ll come back to this example and find the intercepts for the path of the baseball.
Subsection 9.3.1 Finding the Vertical and Horizontal Intercepts Algebraically
In List 9.2.12, we identified that the vertical intercept occurs where the graph intersects the vertical axis. If we’re using and as our variables, the -value on the vertical axis is We can substitute for to find the value of
The horizontal intercepts occur where the graph intersects the horizontal axis. If we’re using and as our variables, the -value on the horizontal axis is so we can substitute for and find the value(s) of
Example 9.3.3.
Find the intercepts for the quadratic equation using algebra.
To determine the -intercept, we substitute and find So the -intercept occurs where On a graph, this is the point
Notice in Example 3 that the -intercept was and the value of was When we substitute for we will always get the value of
Fact 9.3.4.
The vertical intercept of a quadratic equation occurs at the point where is the constant term, because substituting leaves only the constant term.
Example 9.3.5.
Algebraically determine any horizontal and vertical intercepts of the quadratic equation
Explanation.
To determine the vertical intercept, take the constant term and recognize that the -intercept is at the point
To determine the horizontal intercepts, we’ll set and solve for
The radicand is negative so there are no real solutions to the equation. This means there are no horizontal intercepts.
Subsection 9.3.2 Graphing Quadratic Equations Using Their Key Features
To graph a quadratic equation using its key features, we can use algebra to determine the following: whether the parabola opens upward or downward, the vertical intercept, the horizontal intercepts and the vertex. Then we can graph the points and connect them with a smooth curve.
Example 9.3.6.
Graph the quadratic equation by algebraically determining its key features.
To start, we’ll note that this parabola will open upward, since the leading coefficient is positive.
We’re now ready to graph this curve. We’ll start by drawing and scaling the axes so all of our key features will be displayed as shown in Figure 7. Next, we’ll plot these key points as shown in Figure 8. Finally, we’ll note that this parabola opens upward and connect these points with a smooth curve, as shown in Figure 9.
Example 9.3.10.
Graph the quadratic equation by algebraically determining its key features.
To start, we’ll note that this parabola will open downward, as the leading coefficient is negative.
The radicand is negative, so there are no real solutions to the equation. This is a parabola that does not have any horizontal intercepts.
Plotting this information in an appropriate grid, we have:
Since we don’t have any -intercepts, we would like to have a few more points to graph. We make a table with a few more values around the vertex, plot these, and then draw a smooth curve. This is shown in Figure 14 and Figure 15.
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Subsection 9.3.3 Applications of Quadratic Equations
Now we have learned how to find all the key features of a quadratic equation algebraically. Here are some applications of quadratic equations so we can learn how to identify and interpret the vertex, intercepts and additional points in context.
Example 9.3.16.
Returning to the path of the baseball in Figure 2, the equation that represents the height of the baseball after Ignacio hit it, is The height is in feet and the time, is in seconds. Find and interpret the following, in context.
- The vertical intercept.
- The horizontal intercept(s).
- The vertex.
- The height of the baseball
second after it was hit. - The time(s) when the baseball is
feet above the ground.
Explanation.
- To determine the vertical intercept, we’ll substitute
to find The vertical intercept occurs at This is the height of the baseball at time so the initial height of the baseball was feet. - To determine the horizontal intercepts, we’ll solveRounding these two values with a calculator, we obtain:The horizontal intercepts occur at approximately
and If we assume that the ball was hit when a negative time does not make sense. The second horizontal intercept tells us that the ball hit the ground after approximately seconds. -
The vertex occurs at
and for this equation and So we have:And then we can find the vertex’s second coordinate:Thus the vertex is aboutThe vertex tells us that the baseball reached a maximum height of approximately feet about seconds after Ignacio hit it. - To find the height of the baseball after
second, we can compute whenThe height of the baseball was feet after second. - If we want to know when the baseball was
feet in the air, then we set and we have:Rounding these two values with a calculator, we obtain:The baseball was feet above the ground at two times, at about seconds on the way up and about seconds on the way down.
Example 9.3.17.
- Determine the profit the company will make when they produce
refrigerators. - Determine the maximum profit and the number of refrigerators produced that yields this profit.
- How many refrigerators need to be produced in order for the company to “break even?” (In other words, for their profit to be
) - How many refrigerators need to be produced in order for the company to make a profit of
Explanation.
- This question is giving us an input value and asking for the output value. We substitute
for and we have:If Keenan’s company sells refrigerators it will make a profit of - This question is asking for the maximum, so we need to find the vertex. This parabola opens downward so the vertex will tell us the maximum profit and the corresponding number of refrigerators that need to be produced. Using
and we have:Now we find the value of whenThe maximum profit is which occurs if units are produced. - This question is giving a height of
and asking us to find the time(s). So we will be finding the horizontal intercept(s). We set and solve for using the quadratic formula:The company will break even if they produce about refrigerators or refrigerators. If the company produces more refrigerators than it can sell its profit will go down. - This question is giving us the profit value. We set
and solve for using the quadratic formula:The company will make in profit if they produce about refrigerators or refrigerators.
Example 9.3.18.
Maia has a remote-controlled airplane and she is going to do a stunt dive where the plane dives toward the ground and back up along a parabolic path. The height of the plane after seconds is given by for The height is measured in feet.
- Determine the starting height of the plane as the dive begins.
- Determine the height of the plane after
seconds. - Will the plane hit the ground, and if so, at what time?
- If the plane does not hit the ground, what is the closest it gets to the ground, and at what time?
- At what time(s) will the plane have a height of
feet?
Explanation.
- This question is asking for the starting height which is the vertical intercept. So we find
whenWhen Maia begins the stunt, the plane has a height of feet. Recall that we can also look at the value of to determine the vertical intercept. - This question is telling us to use
and findAfter seconds, the plane is feet above the ground. - The ground has a height of
feet, so it is asking us to find the horizontal intercept(s) if there are any. We set and solve for using the quadratic formula:The radicand is negative so there are no real solutions to the equation That means the plane did not hit the ground. - This question is asking for the lowest point of the airplane so we should find the vertex. Using
and we have:Now we can find the value of whenThe minimum height of the plane is about feet, which occurs after about seconds. - This question is giving us a height and asking for the corresponding time(s) so we set
and solve for using the quadratic formula:Maia’s plane will be feet above the ground about 9 seconds and 24 seconds after the plane begins the stunt.
Subsection 9.3.4 Distinguishing Quadratic Equations from Other Equations
So far, we’ve seen that the graphs of quadratic equations are parabolas and have a specific curved with a vertex. We’ve also seen that they have the algebraic form of Here, we practice recognizing a quadratic equation so that we can call to mind that the equation has these features, which may be useful in some application.
Example 9.3.19.
Explanation.
- As
can be re-written as this equation is a quadratic equation. - The equation
cannot be re-written in the form (due to the term), so this equation is not a quadratic equation. - The equation
is a linear equation, not a quadratic equation. - The equation
can be re-written as so this is a quadratic equation. - The equation
is not a quadratic equation as is inside a radical, not squared.
Example 9.3.20.
Determine if each graph could be the graph of a quadratic equation.
Explanation.
- Since this graph has multiple maximum points and minimum points, it is not a parabola and it is not possible that it represents a quadratic equation.
- This graph looks like a parabola, and it’s possible that it represents a quadratic equation.
- This graph does not appear to be a parabola, but looks like a straight line. It’s not likely that it represents a quadratic equation.
Reading Questions 9.3.5 Reading Questions
1.
Explain how to find a parabola’s -intercept when you have the equation for the parabola.
2.
Why does a parabola sometimes have zero -intercepts, sometimes have one, and sometimes have two?
3.
When you have the equation for a quadratic graph, what can you always try to use to find any horizontal intercepts?
Exercises 9.3.6 Exercises
Review and Warmup.
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Finding the Intercepts of Quadratic Equations Algebraically.
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Sketching Graphs of Quadratic Equations.
Graph each curve by algebraically determining its key features.
Applications of Quadratic Equations.
53.
An object was shot up into the air with an initial vertical speed of feet per second. Its height as time passes can be modeled by the quadratic equation Here represents the number of seconds since the object’s release, and represents the object’s height in feet.
- After , this object reached its maximum height of .
- This object flew for before it landed on the ground.
- This object was in the air
after its release. - This object was
high at two times: once after its release, and again later after its release.
54.
An object was shot up into the air with an initial vertical speed of feet per second. Its height as time passes can be modeled by the quadratic equation Here represents the number of seconds since the object’s release, and represents the object’s height in feet.
- After , this object reached its maximum height of .
- This object flew for before it landed on the ground.
- This object was in the air
after its release. - This object was
high at two times: once after its release, and again later after its release.
55.
From an oceanside clifftop above sea level, an object was shot into the air with an initial vertical speed of It fell into the ocean. Its height (above sea level) as time passes can be modeled by the quadratic equation Here represents the number of seconds since the object’s release, and represents the object’s height (above sea level) in meters.
- After , this object reached its maximum height of .
- This object flew for before it landed in the ocean.
- This object was above sea level
after its release. - This object was
above sea level twice: once after its release, and again later after its release.
56.
From an oceanside clifftop above sea level, an object was shot into the air with an initial vertical speed of It fell into the ocean. Its height (above sea level) as time passes can be modeled by the quadratic equation Here represents the number of seconds since the object’s release, and represents the object’s height (above sea level) in meters.
- After , this object reached its maximum height of .
- This object flew for before it landed in the ocean.
- This object was above sea level
after its release. - This object was
above sea level twice: once after its release, and again later after its release.
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61.
An object is launched upward at the height of meters. Its height can be modeled by
where stands for the object’s height in meters, and stands for time passed in seconds since its launch. The object’s height will be meters twice before it hits the ground. Find how many seconds since the launch would the object’s height be meters. Round your answers to two decimal places if needed.
The object’s height would be meters the first time at seconds, and then the second time at seconds.
62.
An object is launched upward at the height of meters. Its height can be modeled by
where stands for the object’s height in meters, and stands for time passed in seconds since its launch. The object’s height will be meters twice before it hits the ground. Find how many seconds since the launch would the object’s height be meters. Round your answers to two decimal places if needed.
The object’s height would be meters the first time at seconds, and then the second time at seconds.
63.
Currently, an artist can sell paintings every year at the price of per painting. Each time he raises the price per painting by he sells fewer paintings every year.
Assume he will raise the price per painting times, then he will sell paintings every year at the price of dollars. His yearly income can be modeled by the equation:
where stands for his yearly income in dollars. If the artist wants to earn per year from selling paintings, what new price should he set?
To earn per year, the artist could sell his paintings at two different prices. The lower price is per painting, and the higher price is per painting.
64.
Currently, an artist can sell paintings every year at the price of per painting. Each time he raises the price per painting by he sells fewer paintings every year.
Assume he will raise the price per painting times, then he will sell paintings every year at the price of dollars. His yearly income can be modeled by the equation:
where stands for his yearly income in dollars. If the artist wants to earn per year from selling paintings, what new price should he set?
To earn per year, the artist could sell his paintings at two different prices. The lower price is per painting, and the higher price is per painting.
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