Graphing Quadratic Functions in Standard Form

Name:_______________________________ Date ________________

Example: Graph y  x2  4x  5

Step 1: Find the axis of symmetry

b
Use x   . Substitute 1 for a and ‐4 for b.
4 2a
x
2(1) Simplify
x2
Note: this is a vertical line
Step 2: Find the vertex

y  x2  4 x  5 The x‐coordinate of the vertex is 2. Substitute 2

y  2  4(2)  5 for x
y  485 The y‐coordinate is ‐9. So the point is (2, ‐ 9)
y  9 (When x=2)

Step 3: Find the y‐intercept

y  x2  4 x  5 Identify c in the equation y  a 2  bx  ( c )

y  a 2  bx  ( c )
So the point is (0, ‐ 5)
y  x 2  4 x  ( 5)
c  5

Step 4: Find two more points on the same side of the axis of symmetry as the point containing the y‐intercept.

y  x2  4 x  5 Since the axis of symmetry is x=2, choose

y  a  bx  c
2 values less than 2.

y  x 2  4 x  ( 5) This will allow us to use the symmetry of the

Let x=1 parabola to sketch the graph.
Let x= ‐ 1
2
y=1 ‐ 4(1) ‐ 5 y=(‐1)2‐ 4(‐1) ‐5
=1 ‐4 ‐5 =1 +4 ‐5
=‐8 =0
Two other points are (1,‐8) and (‐1,0)
y

5
Step 5: Graph the axis of symmetry, the vertex, the point containing the y‐intercept
and two other points -5 5 10 x

-5

5 -10

-5 5 10 x
Step 6: Reflect the points across the axis of symmetry.
-5

Connect the points with a smooth curve.

-10
Graphing Quadratic Functions in Standard Form Worksheet #1
Name:______________________________________ Period____________ Date _____________

Directions: Graph these equations. Identify the axis of symmetry, vertex, and y‐intercept.

1.) y  x 2  2 x  3 2.) y  3x 2  12 x  9
y y
10 12

8 10
6 8
4
6
2
4
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 x 2
-2

-4 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 x

-6 -2

-8 -4

-10 -6

3.) y   x 2  6 x  4 4.) y  4 x 2  8

y y
8 10

8
6
6
4
4
2
2

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 x -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 x
-2
-2
-4
-4
-6
-6
-8

-8 -10

1 2
5.) y  x  x6 6.) y  2 x 2  2 x  5
4
y y
10 10

8 8

6 6

4 4

2 2

-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10 x -4 -2 2 4 x
-2 -2

-4 -4

-6 -6

-8 -8

-10 -10