Graphing Quadratic Functions

A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree 2. This is its general form:

f(x)
ax 2  bx  c, where a  0
Quadratic functions are not as simple as linear functions, but they do have certain
predictable properties, one of which is the shape of their graphs.

TRACE A POINT
1. In a new sketch, choose Graph⎮Define Coordinate System.
2. Construct a point on the x-axis. Label it x.
To measure the 3. Measure the point’s x-coordinate. Change the measurement label to x.
x-coordinate, select
point x and choose 4. Choose Measure⎮Calculate and calculate x 2  4x  2. To enter x, click the x
Measure⎮
Abscissa(x). Double- measurement in the sketch.
click the Text tool on
the measurement to 5. Drag point x left and right. Observe the value of the calculation.
change its label.
6. Select in order the measurement x and the calculation of x 2  4x  2. Choose
Graph⎮Plot As (x,y). Label the new point P.
Q1 Drag point x and watch how the height of point P changes. What is the
maximum height of point P? What is its minimum height?
To trace point P, 7. Turn on tracing for point P, and trace the path of P as you drag x.
select it and choose
Display⎮Trace Point. This is what graphing is all about. With numbers, you can see the value of y for only
one particular value of x. With a graph, you can see the values of y for a whole set of
x values.

Q2 This is the graph of y
x 2  4x  2. Describe the shape of this graph.

GRAPH A FUNCTION
In the equation y
ax 2  bx  c, the right 6

side is a function of x. With Sketchpad, you a = 1.00

can define a function f(x)
ax 2  bx  c b = –4.00 4

c = 2.00
and graph the equation y
f(x). f(x) = a⋅x2+b⋅x+c 2

8. Choose File⎮Document Options⎮Add

Page⎮Blank Page. –5 5

–2

Exploring Algebra 1 with The Geometer’s Sketchpad 7: Quadratic Equations 225

© 2006 Key Curriculum Press
Graphing Quadratic Equations
continued

9. On the new blank page, define a coordinate system. Choose Graph⎮New

Parameter and label the new parameter a. Create two more parameters and
label them b and c. You will change the values of the parameters later.
10. Choose Graph⎮Plot New Function. The Calculator dialog box that appears
has a key labeled x. Enter ax 2  bx  c as the function definition. Click the
parameters in the sketch to enter them.
This is a more convenient way of representing a graph in Sketchpad. You can change
the parameters and the graph will change.
To make a parameter Q3 Select parameter a. Change its value by pressing the  and  keys. What
change more gradually,
select it and choose happens to the graph as you change parameter a? What is the shape of the graph
Edit⎮Properties⎮ when a
0? Explain why. How does the sign of a influence the shape of the
Parameter. Change
the Keyboard (/) graph?
Adjustments to 0.1.
Q4 What happens to the graph as you change parameter b? What special property
does the graph have when b
0?
Q5 What happens to the graph as you change parameter c? What special property
does the graph have when c
0?
Q6 When you change a or b, is there always one point that does not move? What
point is that? Explain why it remains fixed when all of the other points are
moving.

EXPLORE MORE
Below are the coordinates of four special points on the graph. Follow the
instructions to plot them on the graph.

( ) ( )( )
________ ________
b 2
b ; (0, c); b 
b  4ac
2
b 
b  4ac 2
__ , c  __
2a 4a
______________
2a
,0 ; ______________
2a
,0

11. Set the parameters back to the values they had in the first section:
a
1, b
4, c
2
12. Choose Measure⎮Calculate and calculate the x-coordinate of the first point.
Repeat for the remaining seven x- and y-coordinates.
13. Select a coordinate pair in order and choose Measure⎮Plot As (x,y). Repeat this
for each of the points.
Q7 Describe the significance of each point. Vary the parameters to make sure your
descriptions are accurate no matter what the shape of the graph is.

226 7: Quadratic Equations Exploring Algebra 1 with The Geometer’s Sketchpad

© 2006 Key Curriculum Press
Graphing Quadratic Functions Activity Notes

Objective: Students plot the graph of a general quadratic Q4 When you change b, the graph retains its shape, but it
function and study the effects of changing the parameters. is translated along a curved path. The y-intercept does
not change.
Student Audience: Algebra 1/Algebra 2
When b
0, the curve is symmetric with respect to
Prerequisites: Students should understand basic function
the y-axis.
notation, but they do not need any knowledge of the
properties of parabolic curves. Q5 Changing parameter c translates the graph vertically.

When c
0, the curve passes through the origin.

Sketchpad Level: Intermediate
Q6 When you change a or b, the y-intercept does not
Activity Time: 20–30 minutes. The Explore More section
change. On the y-axis, x
0. Substitute 0 for x in the
can be omitted.
equation y
ax 2  bx  c, and the result is y
c.
Setting: Paired/Individual Activity (no sketch required) Therefore it does not matter what values a and b have.
or Whole-Class Presentation (use Graphing Quadratic The y-intercept is at (0, c).
Present.gsp)

Related Activity: Graphing Factored Quadratics EXPLORE MORE

11. These values are used here in order to ensure that the
TRACE A POINT function has real roots.

Q1 Point P has no maximum value. Its minimum value 12. Students may have trouble with some of the more
is 2. complicated calculations. Advise them not to delete
anything if they get it wrong. They can double-click a
Q2 The graph is a parabola. If students are not familiar
calculation to edit it, even after they have plotted the
with the correct term, they should still be able to
point.
describe its form as being roughly U-shaped.
Q7 The points are, in order, the vertex, the y-intercept,
and the two x-intercepts.
GRAPH A FUNCTION
Q3 Changing parameter a stretches the graph vertically,
but the y-intercept does not change.
When a
0, this eliminates the first term from the
quadratic function, so it becomes a linear function,
f(x)
bx  c.
When a  0, the curve opens upward. When a  0, it
opens downward.

Exploring Algebra 1 with The Geometer’s Sketchpad 7: Quadratic Equations 227

© 2006 Key Curriculum Press
Graphing Quadratic Functions Presenter Notes

In this activity students will observe the behavior of a plotted quadratic function
in general form f(a)
ax 2  bx  c as you vary the three parameters a, b, and
c. Students will form and evaluate conjectures about the effect of each of the
parameters on the graph.

Use the prepared presentation sketch to eliminate some time-consuming parts of

the student activity such as the entry of coordinate calculations.

1. Open Graphing Quadratic Present.gsp. Drag the sliders to show students how
they control parameters a, b, and c.
The graph should 2. Choose Graph⎮Plot New Function. The Calculator that appears has a key for
appear after step
2. If it does not, the the variable x. Enter the expression below. Enter the parameters by clicking on
parameters may have them.
moved it out of view.
ax 2  bx  c
Special properties Q1 Tell students that you are going to change the value of parameter a gradually.
appear when any
parameter is zero. Ask them what effect that will have on the graph. After some discussion, drag
There are action the a slider. Give special attention to the linear graph that appears when a
0.
buttons to make it
easier to hit that value. Guide them to explain this by substituting zero for a in the function.
Q2 Challenge students to predict the effects of changing b. This is more difficult to
predict or explain. Show the y-axis symmetry that appears when b
0.
Q3 Show and discuss the changes that result from dragging the c slider. Again, stop
briefly at zero so students can see that the curve goes through the origin.
Q4 There is one point that is always on the curve when parameters a or b are
changed. If students did not notice, go back through those motions, and tell
them to watch for it. The invariant point is the y-intercept. Help them explain
this by substituting zero for x in the function. The result is c, no matter what the
values of the other parameters are.
Q5 Plot each of the points below. In each case, challenge students to predict the
location of the plotted point. To save time with the calculations, press the Show
Coordinates button. For each point, select the coordinates in order and choose
Graph⎮Plot As (x,y).

( ) ( )( )
________ ________
b 2
b ; (0, c); b 
b  4ac
2
b 
b  4ac 2
__ , c  __
2a 4a
______________
2a
,0 ; ______________
2a
,0

228 7: Quadratic Equations Exploring Algebra 1 with The Geometer’s Sketchpad

© 2006 Key Curriculum Press