Chapter 12

W
hile the straight lines
of linear equations
are easy to graph,
they are not the most exciting.
Graphing quadratic equations,
however, opens the door to the
wonderful world of parabolas.
Chapter 12 introduces these
U-shaped curves and gives
you the tools to graph them.
Graphing
Quadratic E quations

In this Chapter...
Introduction to Parabolas
Write a Quadratic Equation in Vertex Form
Graph a Parabola
Test Your Skills
Introduction to Parabolas
Remember being a kid and throwing that baseball
as high as you could? The ball never landed in
the same spot from which you tossed it because,
whether you noticed it or not, the ball always
followed a curve up and then fell back down on a
similar curve. Those curves formed a symmetrical,
U-shaped curve called a parabola.
When you graph a quadratic equation—an
equation in which the highest exponent is
two, such as x 2—the graph of the equation is
a parabola. Parabolas open either downward
or upward.
The lowest point in an upward-opening parabola
or the highest point in a downward-opening
parabola is called the vertex.
While quadratic equations can be expressed
in the form y = ax 2 + bx + c, for the purposes of
graphing, parabolas are generally rewritten as
y = a(x – h)2 + k. This is called the vertex form
of an equation. In this form, the variable a
determines how steep a parabola will be and
whether it will open upward or downward.
The variables h and k represent the position
of the vertex (h,k) in the coordinate plane.

Parabola Basics Steepness or Flatness of a Parabola

5 5

4 4
2
y = 2(x – 1) – 1 3 y = 2(x – 1)2 – 1
3

2 2
y = 21 (x – 1)2 – 1
1 1

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-1 -1
y = – 21 (x – 1)2 – 1
-2 -2

-3 -3
y = –2(x – 1)2 – 1
-4 -4

-5 -5

• When you graph a
quadratic equation,
you will end up with
a U-shaped curve
known as a parabola.
Note: A quadratic
equation is an equation
whose highest exponent
in the equation is two,
such as x 2 .
• The standard way to write
a quadratic equation you
want to graph is in the form
y = a( x – h) 2 + k, where a, h
and k are numbers. Writing
a quadratic equation in this
form provides information to
help you graph the parabola.
Note: To write a quadratic
equation in the form
y = a( x – h) 2 + k, see page 232.
• The number represented
by a indicates the
steepness or flatness of
a parabola. The larger
the number, whether
the number is positive
or negative, the steeper
the parabola.
• The number represented
by a also indicates if a
parabola opens upward
or downward. When a is
a positive number, the
parabola opens upward.
When a is a negative
number, the parabola
opens downward.

230
 Chapter 12 Graphing Quadratic Equations

Tip Pra
ctice
Can the graph of a quadratic Yes. The graphs of even Determine the vertex of each
equation with just one term the simplest quadratic of the following parabolas and
be a parabola? equations, which by indicate if each parabola opens
definition must contain the upward or downward. You can
5
x2 variable, form a parabola. check your answers on page 264.
4
For example, a graph of
3 the equation y = x2 forms 1) y = ( x – 1) 2
a parabola and can be
2) y = 1 ( x – 1 ) 2 – 5
2

written as y = 1(x – 0)2 + 0

1
2 3
in the vertex form. In this
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
equation, you will notice 3) y = –3( x + 1) 2 + 2
that a = 1, so the parabola 4) y = 4 x 2 + 3
-1

-2
opens upward, and because 10
-3
h and k both equal 0, the 5) y = – x 2 + 2
vertex is at the origin (0,0)
6) y = – 3 ( x –2) 2 – 3
-4

-5 in the coordinate plane. 4

Vertex of a Parabola
2 2
5
y = 2(x + 3) + 2 y = 2(x – 2) + 2
5
4
4
3
3
2
y = 2(x – 3)2 + 2 2
1
1

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x-axis
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-1 y = 2(x – 1)2 – 1
y = 2(x + 3)2 – 1 -1 y = 2(x – 2)2 – 1
y = 2(x + 3)2 – 2 -2
-2
-3
-3
-4
y-axis

-4
-5
-5

• The numbers Note: If a minus sign (–) appears • The number represented by h • The number
represented by h after x in the equation, h in indicates how far left or right represented by k
and k , when written ( h, k ) is a positive number. If along the x-axis the vertex of indicates how far up
as (h, k) , indicate a plus sign (+) appears after x a parabola is located from the or down along the
the location of the in the equation, h in ( h, k ) is a origin. The origin is the location y-axis the vertex of
vertex of a parabola, negative number. where the x-axis and y-axis a parabola is located
which is the lowest intersect. from the origin.
or highest point of a
• For example, in the
equation y = 2(x + 3 ) 2 – 2 , Note: When a minus sign (–) appears Note: Positive k
parabola. the vertex of the parabola is after x in the equation, the parabola numbers move the
located at (–3 , –2). moves to the right. When a plus sign (+) parabola up. Negative
appears after x in the equation, the k numbers move the
parabola moves to the left. parabola down.

231
Write a Quadratic
Equation in Vertex Form
Graphing a parabola is simple if you first change
the quadratic equation from standard form
(y = ax 2 + bx + c) to vertex form (y = a(x - h)2 + k).
The vertex form of a quadratic equation gives you
the direction that the parabola opens, as well as
the coordinates of the vertex—the highest point
of a parabola that opens downward or lowest
point of a parabola that opens upward.
To convert a quadratic equation to vertex form,
you must determine the values of h and k—the
value of a is the same in both equations. To
determine the value of h, you use a simple
–b
formula (h = 2a ) that uses the standard form
values of a and b. To determine the value of k,
go back to the standard form of the equation.
Replace the variable y with the variable k and
replace the x variables with the value of h. You
can then solve for the variable k in the equation.
When you have all three values—a, h and k—
you can write the equation out in vertex form.

Standard Form Example

2
y = ax + bx + c y = 2x 2 – 4x + 3

Standard Form Example

2
y = ax + bx + c y = 2x 2 – 4x + 3
a = 2, b = –4, c = 3
Vertex Form Example
y = a (x – h )2 + k y = 2( x – 1) 2 + 1

• Quadratic equations
are often written
in the standard form
y = ax 2 + bx + c ,
where a , b and c are
numbers and one side
of the equation is set
to equal y.
Note: A quadratic equation
is an equation whose
highest exponent in the
equation is two, such as x 2 .
• When you want to graph 1 To change a quadratic
a quadratic equation, you
will want to write the
equation in the vertex
form y = a (x – h) 2 + k,
where a, h and k are
numbers. Writing a
quadratic equation in this
form provides information
to help you graph the
equation.
equation from the standard
form to the vertex form, you
first need to identify the
numbers a , b and c in the
standard form of the equation.
Note: If the x variable or c
number does not appear in
the equation, assume the number
is 0. For example, the equation
y = 2 x 2 – 4 x is the same as
y = 2 x 2 – 4x + 0 .
2 To determine the
value of a in the
vertex form of the
equation, use the
value of a from the
standard form of
the equation, since
the numbers will be
the same.
• In this example, a
equals 2.

232
 Chapter 12 Graphing Quadratic Equations

Tip Pra
ctice
How do I change an equation from vertex form Write the following quadratic
to the standard form of a quadratic equation? equations in vertex form. You can
check your answers on page 264.
If you multiply and then simplify the terms of
an equation in vertex form, you will arrive at 1) y = x 2 – 2 x + 3
the standard form of the quadratic equation.
This is a great way to check your answer after 2) y = – x 2 + 4 x – 1
converting an equation from standard form to 3) y = –2 x 2 – 4 x – 3
vertex form. For information on multiplying
polynomials, see page 154. 4) y = x 2 – 6 x + 7
5) y = x 2 + 3
y = 2( x – 1) 2 + 1
y = 2( x – 1)( x – 1) + 1 6) y = x 2 + 10 x + 15
y = 2( x 2 – 2 x + 1) + 1
y = 2x 2 – 4x + 2 + 1
y = 2x 2 – 4x + 3

–b
h =
2a
–(–4) 4
= = =1
2 x 2 4
y = a (x – h )2 + k
y = 2( x – 1) 2 + 1
k = 2h 2 – 4h + 3
= 2(1) 2 – 4(1) + 3
=2–4+3
=1

3 To determine the
value of h in the
vertex form of the
equation, use the
numbers a and b from
the standard form of
the equation in the
formula h = –b
2a
. in step 3. Then solve for k
• In this example, h
equals 1.
4 To determine the value 5 In the vertex form • You have finished
of k , use the standard of the equation, changing the quadratic
form of the equation and replace the numbers equation from the
replace the variable y with you determined for standard form to the
the variable k and replace a , h and k. vertex form.
the x variables with the
value of h you determined
in the equation.
• In this example, k equals 1 .

233
Graph a Parabola

When you graph a quadratic equation in the form
of y = ax 2 + bx + c in the coordinate plane, you will
always end up with a U-shaped curve known as a
parabola. For information on the coordinate
plane, see page 80.
When you want to graph a quadratic equation, it
is useful to have the equation written in vertex
form (y = a(x – h)2 + k). The vertex form tells you
whether the parabola opens upward or downward
and provides you with the coordinates of the
parabola's vertex—the highest or lowest point of
the parabola. In an equation in vertex form, if
the value of a is positive, the parabola opens
upward, while if the value of a is negative, the
parabola opens downward. The values h and k
represent the coordinates (h,k) of the parabola’s
vertex.
After you plot the vertex, plotting one point on
either side of the vertex is sufficient to draw the
rest of the curve. If you want to make sure you
did not make a mistake, you can plot more
points.

y-axis
4

3
y = 2(x – 1)2 – 3
2
Graph the equation y = 2( x – 1) 2 – 3.
1

x-axis
y = a (x – h )2 + k -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

y = 2( x – 1) 2 – 3 -1

Location of parabola’s vertex: (1,–3) -2

(1,–3)
-3

-4

-5

1 To determine the location of
the vertex of the parabola,
which is the lowest or highest
point of the parabola, look at
the h and k numbers in the
equation.
2 Write the h and k numbers as
an ordered pair in the form
(h, k ). An ordered pair is two
numbers, written as (x, y) ,
which gives the location of a
point in the coordinate plane.
Note: If a minus sign (– ) 3 Plot the point for 4 To determine if the parabola will
appears after x in the
equation, the value of h
in (h,k ) is a positive
number. If a plus sign (+)
appears after x in the
equation, the value of h
in (h,k ) is a negative
number.
the parabola’s
vertex in the
coordinate plane.
Note: To plot points
in a coordinate
plane, see page 82.
• In the equation y = 2 (x – 1 ) 2 – 3 ,
open upward or downward, look
at the number represented by a.
When the value of a is a positive
number, the parabola will open
upward. When the value of a is
a negative number, the parabola
will open downward.
the parabola will open upward
since the value of a , or 2 , is a
positive number.

234
 Chapter 12 Graphing Quadratic Equations

Tip Pra
ctice
Can graphing a parabola help me solve Graph the following parabolas. You
a quadratic equation? can check your graphs on page 265.
Yes. Look at where a parabola crosses 1) y = –( x – 1) 2 + 3
the x-axis. The values for x at those
points will give you the solutions to 2) y = ( x + 2) 2 – 4
the quadratic equation. If the parabola 3) y = x 2 – 1
crosses the x-axis at two points, the
equation has two solutions. If the 4) y = – x 2 + 3
parabola touches the x-axis at just one 5) y = ( x – 2) 2 – 1
point, the equation has one solution.
If the parabola does not cross the x-axis, 6) y = –2( x + 3) 2
the equation has no real solutions.

Let x =0 5

= 2( x – 1) 2 – 3

y-axis
y 4
y = 2(0 – 1) 2 – 3
3
y =2–3 y = 2(x – 1)2 – 3
2
y = –1
1
Ordered pair ( x , y ) = (0,–1)
x-axis
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
Letx =2 (0,–1)
-1
(2,–1)

y = 2( x – 1) 2 – 3
-2
y = 2(2 – 1) 2 – 3
-3
y =2–3
-4
y = –1
Ordered pair ( x , y ) = (2,–1) -5

5 Choose a random
number for the x
variable. For example,
let x equal 0.
6 Place the number you
selected into the
equation to determine
the value of the y
variable. Then solve
for y in the equation.
7 Write the x and y value
together as an ordered
pair in the form (x, y ).
8 Repeat steps 5 to 7
to determine another
ordered pair. The ordered
pair should be located
on the other side of the
parabola’s vertex so you
have one point on either
side of the parabola’s
vertex.
9 Plot the two points in • The parabola shows all
a coordinate plane. the possible solutions
10 Connect the points to to the equation.
draw a smooth curve.
Draw an arrow at each
end of the curve to
show that the parabola
extends forever.

235
Test Your Skills

Graphing Quadratic Equations

Question 1. Determine the vertex of the following parabolas

and whether the parabolas open upward or
downward.

a) y = ( x – 1) 2 + 2

b) y = –( x + 6) 2 – 3

1
c) y = 4( x + 4) 2 +
2

d) y = – 1 ( x – 1 )
2

2 3
e) y = 200( x – 50) 2 – 75

Question 2. Write the following quadratic equations in vertex

form. Determine the vertex of each parabola and
whether the parabola opens upward or downward.

a) y = x 2 – 2 x + 1

b) y = x 2 + 6 x + 5

c) y = – x 2 – 2 x + 2

d) y = –4 x 2 + 4 x + 3

e) y = 25 x 2 + 20 x + 16

236
 Chapter 12 Graphing Quadratic Equations

Question 3. Graph the following parabolas.

a) y = ( x + 1) 2 – 2

b) y = –( x – 3) 2 + 1

c) y = 2 x 2 – 8 x + 5

d) y = x 2 + 4 x

e) y = – 2 x 2 – 12 x – 14

You can check your answers

on pages 280-281.

237