Changes between forms of quadratic functions
1st case: Standard form to factorized form: ax 2 + bx + c → a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
Example
Write the factorized form of the function f ( x) = x 2 + 4 x − 12
Solution Use the quadratic formula
to find the roots.
a = 1 , b = 4 , c = −12 , D = 64
Then apply them directly
in the factorized form.
−4 + 8 4
= =2 Note that if there aren’t
2 2
−b D −4 64 −4 8 any real roots, there will
x1,2 = = = =
2a 2 1 2 be no factorized form
−4 − 8 −12
= = −6
2 2
a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) = 1( x − 2 )( x − (−6) ) = ( x − 2 )( x + 6 )
2nd case: Standard form to Vertex form: ax 2 + bx + c → a ( x − h ) + k
2
Example
Find the vertex form of the function f ( x) = x 2 − 2 x + 5 . Find the coordinates of the
vertex from the formula
Solution
−b − D
a = 1 , b = −2 , c = 5 , D = − 16 ,
2a 4a
Then plug in these values
−b − D −(−2) −(−16) in place of h and k
V , =V , = V (1, 4 )
2a 4a 2 1 4 1 respectively
h =1 , k = 4
a ( x − h ) + k = 1( x − 1) + 4
2 2
3rd case: Factorized form to standard form: a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) → ax 2 + bx + c
Example
Bring f ( x) = 2 ( x − 3)( x + 4 ) into its standard form
Solution
f ( x) = 2 ( x − 3)( x + 4 )
f ( x) = 2 ( x 2 + 4 x − 3 x − 12 )
Simply apply the
distributive property
f ( x) = 2 ( x 2 + x − 12 )
f ( x) = 2 x 2 + 2 x − 24
4th case: Factorized form to vertex form: a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) → a ( x − h ) + k
2
Example
Bring f ( x) = 2 ( x − 3)( x + 4 ) into its vertex form We will firstly
apply the
Solution distributive
property to
a = 2 , b = 2 , c = −12 , D = 100
f ( x) = 2 ( x − 3)( x + 4 ) bring it in
standard form
−b − D −2 −100 and from that
f ( x) = 2 ( x + 4 x − 3x − 12 ) V , =V , = V ( −1, −25 ) form we will
2
2 a 4 a 2 1 4 1
convert it into its
→ vertex form like
f ( x) = 2 ( x 2 + x − 12 ) h = −1 , k = −25 we did in the 2nd
case
( − ) + = ( − − ) − = ( + ) − 25
2 2 2
f ( x) = 2 x + 2 x − 24
2
a x h k 2 x ( 1) 25 2 x 1
5th case: Vertex form to standard form: a ( x − h ) + k → ax 2 + bx + c
2
Example
Bring f ( x) = 2 ( x − 3) + 6 into its standard form
2
Solution expand the identity by applying one
of the following:
f ( x) = 2 ( x − 3) + 6
2
( a + b ) = a 2 + 2ab + b2
2
f ( x ) = 2 ( x 2 − 2 x 3 + 32 ) + 6
( a − b ) = a 2 − 2ab + b2
2
f ( x) = 2 ( x 2 − 6 x + 9 ) + 6 Then, do operations to bring it into
the needed form
f ( x ) = 2 x 2 − 12 x + 18 + 6
f ( x ) = 2 x 2 − 12 x + 24
6th case: Vertex form to factorized form: a ( x − h ) + k → a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
2
Example
Bring f ( x) = 3 ( x + 1) − 27 into its factorized form
2
Solution
f ( x) = 3 ( x + 1) − 27
2
a = 3, b = 6, c = −24 x1 = 2 , x2 = −4
= + = a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
f ( x) = 3 ( x + 2 x + 1) − 27
2 D 36 288 324
We must firstly
3 ( x − 2 )( x + 4 )
find the standard
−6 324 −6 18 form of the
f ( x) = 3x + 6 x + 3 − 27
2
x1,2 = =
6 6 → function like we
→ did in the 5th case
f ( x) = 3x 2 + 6 x − 24 and then follow
−6 + 18 12
= =2 the process we
6 6 worked in the 1st
= case
−6 − 18 −24
= −4
operations to
=
6 6 bring it into the
needed form
