汉林学院 – Mr.

Zhao
Chapter 5 Applying Quadratic Models

Vertical stretch is a transformation that increases all the 𝑦-coordinates of a relation by the same factor
Vertical compression is a transformation that decreases all the 𝑦-coordinates of a relation by the same factor

When compared with the graph of 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 , the graph of 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 is a parabola that has been stretched or compressed vertically by
a factor of 𝒂.

Vertical stretches are determined by the value of 𝑎. When 𝑎 > 1, the graph is stretched vertically. When 𝑎 < 1, the graph is
stretched vertically and reflected across the 𝑥-axis.

Vertical compressions are also determined by the value of 𝑎. When 0 < 𝑎 < 1, the graph is compressed vertically. When −1 <
𝑎 < 0, the graph is compressed vertically and reflected across the 𝑥-axis.

If 𝑎 > 0, the parabola opens upward. If 𝑎 < 0, the parabola opens downward.

Example
a) Sketch the graph of the equation 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 by transforming the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
b) Describe how the graphs of 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2 are related

Example
Determine an equation of a quadratic relation for each of the followings.

Practice
1. Describe the transformation(s) that were applied to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 to obtain each black graph. Write the equation of the
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transformed graph.

2. Sketch the graph of each equation by correctly applying the required transformation(s) to points on the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 .
a) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2
b) 𝑦 = −0.25𝑥 2
c) 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2
2
d) 𝑦 = 3 𝑥 2

3. Identify the transformation(s) that must be applied to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 to create a graph of each equation. Then state the
coordinates of the image of the point (2, 4).
a) 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2
2
b) 𝑦 = − 3 𝑥 2

c) 𝑦 = 0.25𝑥 2
d) 𝑦 = −5𝑥 2
e) 𝑦 = −𝑥 2
1
f) 𝑦 = 5 𝑥 2

The graph of 𝒚 = (𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌 is congruent to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 , but translated horizontally and vertically. Translations can also
be described as shifts. Vertical shifts are up or down, and horizontal shifts are left or right.

The value of ℎ tells how far and in what direction the parabola is translated horizontally. If ℎ < 0, the parabola is translated ℎ units
left. If ℎ > 0, the parabola is translated ℎ units right. The vertex of 𝑦 = (𝑥 − ℎ)2 is the point (ℎ, 0). The equation of the axis of
symmetry of 𝑦 = (𝑥 − ℎ)2 is 𝑥 = ℎ.

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The value of 𝑘 tells how far and in what direction the parabola is translated vertically. If 𝑘 < 0, the parabola is translated 𝑘 units
down. If ℎ > 0, the parabola is translated 𝑘 units up. The equation of the axis of symmetry of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑘 is 𝑥 = 0.

The vertex of 𝑦 = (𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘 is the point (ℎ, 𝑘). The equation of the axis of symmetry of 𝑦 = (𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘 is 𝑥 = ℎ

Example
Describe the transformations that are applied to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 to obtain each of the following
a) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2)2 + 3
b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)2 − 3
c) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 3)2 − 2
d) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3)2 + 2

Example
Sketch the graph of each relation by hand. Start with the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 , and apply the appropriate transformations.
a) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2)2 + 3
b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)2 − 3
c) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 3)2 − 2
d) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3)2 + 2

Example
Match each translation with the correct quadratic relation.
a) 3 units left, 4 units down
b) 2 units right, 4 units down
c) 5 units left
d) 3 units right, 2 units up
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i) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3)2 + 2
ii) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 3)2 − 4
iii) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2)2 − 4
iv) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 5)2

Practice
1. Describe the transformations that are applied to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 to obtain the graph of each quadratic relation. Then, state the
vertex and the axis of symmetry of each parabola.
a) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 5
b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3)2
c) 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2
d) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 7)2
1
e) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
2

f) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 6)2 + 12

2. Sketch the graph of each relation by hand. Start with the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2, and apply the appropriate transformations.
a) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4
b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3)2
c) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 2
d) 𝑦 = (𝑥 = 5)2
e) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)2 − 2
f) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 5)2 + 3

3. The following transformations are applied to a parabola with the equation 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 . Determine the values of ℎ and 𝑘, and write the
equation in the form 𝑦 = (𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘.
a) The parabola moves 3 units right.
b) The parabola moves 4 units down.
c) The parabola moves 2 units left.
d) The parabola moves 5 units up.
e) The parabola moves 7 units down and 6 units left.
f ) The parabola moves 2 units right and 5 units up.

Vertex form is a quadratic relation of the form 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌, where the vertex is (ℎ, 𝑘)

Compared with the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 , the graph of 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌 is a parabola that has been stretched or compressed vertically
by a factor of 𝑎, translated horizontally by ℎ, and translated vertically by 𝑘. As well, if 𝑎 < 0, the parabola is reflected in the
𝑥-axis.

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Example
Describe the transformations you would apply to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2, in the order you would apply them, to obtain the graph of each
quadratic relation.
a) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 3
b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 5)2
1
c) 𝑦 = − 𝑥 2
2

d) 𝑦 = (4(𝑥 + 2)2 − 16

Example
Match each equation with the correct graph.
1
a) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2)2 − 5
2

1
b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 4)2 − 2
2

c) 𝑦 = −2(𝑥 + 2)2 + 5
d) 𝑦 = −2(𝑥 − 2)2 − 5
e) 𝑦 = 4(𝑥 − 5)2 − 2
1
f) 𝑦 = 3 𝑥 2 − 2

Example
Use transformations to sketch the graph of
a) 𝑦 = 2(𝑥 − 3)2 − 8
b) 𝑦 = −3(𝑥 + 5)2 + 1
4
c) 𝑦 = − 3 (𝑥 − 2)2 − 1

Example
For a high school charity event, the principal pays to drop a watermelon from a height of 100 m. The height, ℎ, in meters, of the
watermelon after 𝑡 seconds is ℎ = −0.5𝑔𝑡 2 + 𝑘, where 𝑔 is the acceleration due to gravity and 𝑘 is the height from which the
watermelon is dropped.
a) The clock that times the fall of the watermelon runs for 3 s before the principal releases the watermelon. How does this change the

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graph shown? Determine the equation of the new relation.
b) On Mars, 𝑔 = 3.7 m/s2. Suppose that an astronaut dropped a watermelon from a height of 100 m on Mars. Determine the equation
for the height of the watermelon on Mars. How does the graph for Mars compare with the graph for Earth for part a)?
c) The principal drops another watermelon from a height of 50 m on Earth. How does the graph for part a) change? How does the
relation change?
d) Repeat part c) for an astronaut on Mars.

Practice
1. What transformations would you apply to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 , to create the graph of each relation? List the transformations in the
order you would apply them.
a) 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 + 9
b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3)2
c) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)2 − 1
d) 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 − 6
e) 𝑦 = −2(𝑥 − 4)2 + 16
1
f) 𝑦 = 2 (𝑥 + 6)2 + 12

1
g) 𝑦 = − 2 (𝑥 + 4)2 − 7

h) 𝑦 = 5(𝑥 − 4)2 − 12

2. For each quadratic relation,

i) State the stretch/compression factor and the horizontal/vertical translations
ii) Determine whether the graph is reflected in the x-axis
iii) State the vertex and the equation of the axis of symmetry
iv) Sketch the graph by applying transformations to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
a) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2)2 + 1
1
b) 𝑦 = − 2 (𝑥 + 4)2

c) 𝑦 = 2(𝑥 + 1)2 − 8
d) 𝑦 = −0.25𝑥 2 + 5
e) 𝑦 = 4(𝑥 − 5)2 − 2
1
f) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2
3

1
g) 𝑦 = 2 (𝑥 − 2)2 − 5

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 1
h) 𝑦 = 2 (𝑥 − 4)2 − 2

i) 𝑦 = −2(𝑥 + 2)2 + 5
j) 𝑦 = −2(𝑥 − 2)2 − 5

3. Write the equation of a parabola that matches each description.

a) The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 is reflected about the 𝑥-axis and then translated 5 units up.
b) The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 is stretched vertically by a factor of 5 and then translated 2 units left.
1
c) The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 is compressed vertically by a factor of 5
and then translated 6 units down.

d) The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 is reflected about the x-axis, stretched vertically by a factor of 6, translated 3 units right, and translated
4 units up.

4. A ball is tossed from the edge of a cliff into the water below. The height of the ball over the water is ℎ = −4.9(𝑡 − 3)2 + 60,
where 𝑡 is measured in seconds.
a) How high above the water is the cliff?
b) What is the maximum height the ball reaches, and when is that reached?
c) Is the ball still in the air 6.2 seconds after it is released?

5. A video tracking device recorded the height, ℎ, in meters, of a baseball after it was hit. The data collected can be modelled by the
relation ℎ = −2(𝑡 − 2)2 + 18, where 𝑡 is the time in seconds after the ball was hit.
a) What was the maximum height reached by the baseball?
b) When did the baseball reach its maximum height?
c) At what time(s) was the baseball at a height of 10 m?
d) Approximately when did the baseball hit the ground?

6. A sky diver jumped from an airplane. He used his watch to time the length of his jump. His height above the ground can be
modelled by ℎ = −5(𝑡 − 4)2 + 12500, where ℎ is his height above the ground in meters and 𝑡 is the time in seconds from the time
he started the timer.
a) How long did the sky diver delay his jump?
b) From what height did he jump?
Text
7. Fill in the chart below
Equation Vertex Max or Min Equation of axis of # of Comparison to 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
Symmetry x-intercepts
2
𝑦 = −√3𝑥 + 𝜋

√50 1 2
𝑦=− (𝑥 + )
7 4
3 2 7
𝑦 = (𝑥 − ) −
7 9

If you know the coordinates of the vertex (ℎ, 𝑘) and one other point on a parabola, you can determine the equation of the relation
using 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌

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The vertex form of an equation can be determined using the zeros of the graph. The axis of symmetry is 𝑥 = ℎ, where ℎ is the mean
of the zeros.

Example
Write the equation of each parabola in vertex form.

Example
The amount of gasoline that a car consumes depends on its speed. A group of students decided to research the relationship between
speed and fuel consumption for a particular car. They collected the data in the table. Determine an equation that models the
relationship between speed and fuel consumption.
Speed 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Gas 9.2 8.1 7.4 7.2 6.4 6.1 5.9 5.8 6.0 6.3 7.5 8.4

Practice
1. Determine the equation of a quadratic relation in vertex form, given the following information.
a) Vertex at (−2, 3), passes through (−4, 1)
b) Vertex at (−1, −1), passes through (0, 1)
c) Vertex at (−2, −3), passes through (−5, 6)
d) Vertex at (−2, 5), passes through (1, −4)
e) Vertex at (−3, 2), passes through (−1, 4)
f) Vertex at (1, 5), passes through (3, −3)

2. Write the equation of a parabola with each set of properties.

a) Vertex at (0, 4), opens upward, the same shape as 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
b) Vertex at (5, 0), opens downward, the same shape as 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
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c) Vertex at (2, −3), opens upward, narrower than 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
d) Vertex at (−3, 5), opens downward, wider than 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
e) Axis of symmetry 𝑥 = 4, opens upward, two zeros, narrower than 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
f) Vertex at (3, −4), no zeros, wider than 𝑦 = 𝑥 2

3. A parabola passes through points (3, 0), (−5, 0), and (0, 2).
a) Determine the equation of the parabola in factored form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑟)(𝑥 − 𝑠).
b) Determine the equation of the axis of symmetry.
c) Determine the coordinates of the vertex, and write the equation in vertex form.
d) Write the equation in standard form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

4. A school custodian finds a tennis ball on the roof of the school and throws it to the ground below. The table gives the height of the
ball above the ground as it moves through the air.
a) Estimate the coordinates of the vertex.
b) Determine an algebraic relation in vertex form to model the data.
c) Use your model to predict the height of the ball at 2.75 s and 1.25 s.
Time 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
Height 5.00 11.25 15.00 16.25 15.00 11.25 5.00

5. A chain of ice cream stores sells $840 of ice cream cones per day. Each ice cream cone costs $3.50. Market research shows the
following trend in revenue as the price of an ice cream cone is reduced.
a) Determine an equation in vertex form to model this relation.
b) Use your model to predict the revenue if the price of an ice cream cone is reduced to $2.25.
c) To maximize revenue, what should an ice cream cone cost?
Price 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50
Revenue 840 2520 3600 4080 3960 3240 1920

6. This table shows the number of imported cars that were sold in Newfoundland between 2003 and 2007.
a) Determine an algebraic equation in vertex form to model this relation.
b) Use your model to predict how many imported cars were sold in 2008.
c) What does your model predict for 2006? Is this prediction accurate? Explain.
Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Sales 3996 3906 3762 3788 4151
7. The Lion’s Gate Bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a suspension bridge that spans a distance of 1516 m. Large cables are
attached to the tops of the towers, 50 m above the road. The road is suspended from the large cables by many smaller vertical cables.
The smallest vertical cable measures about 2 m. Use this information to determine a quadratic model for the large cables.

8. A model rocket is launched from the ground. After 20 s, the rocket reaches a maximum height of 2000 m. It lands on the ground
after 40 s. Explain how you could determine the equation of the relationship between the height of the rocket and time using two
different strategies.

9. The owner of a small clothing company wants to create a mathematical model for the company’s daily profit, 𝑝, in dollars, based
on the selling price, 𝑑, in dollars, of the dresses made. The owner has noticed that the maximum daily profit the company has made is
$1600. This occurred when the dresses were sold for $75 each. The owner also noticed that selling the dresses for $50 resulted in a
profit of $1225. Using a quadratic relation to model this problem, create an equation for the company’s daily profit.
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*10. The vertex of the parabola 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 is at (−1, 4). Determine the values of 𝑏 and 𝑐

*11. A parabola passes through the points (0, 7), (−8, 7) and has an optimal value of 11.
a) Determine the vertex form of the parabola
b) Express the equation in standard form.

12. The axis of symmetry of a parabola is 𝑥 = −2, its optimal value is 𝑦 = 27, and its y-intercept is 15. Sketch the given information
on the set of axes. Find the equation of this parabola in standard form.

*13. Find the values of 𝑎 and 𝑘 for the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + (𝑎 + 𝑘)𝑥 + 𝑘 − 𝑎 such that it passes through the points (1, 8) and
(−2, −7).

If 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 can be factored as a product of first-degree binomials and a constant, 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑟)(𝑥 − 𝑠), then this equation
can be used to determine the vertex of the quadratic relation as follows:
𝑟+𝑥
1. Use 𝑥 = to determine the equation of the axis of symmetry. This gives you the value of ℎ.
2

𝑟+𝑥
2. Substitute 𝑥 = into 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 to determine the 𝑦-coordinate of the vertex. This gives you the value of 𝑘.
2

Example
The Next Cup coffee shop sells a special blend of coffee for $2.60 per mug. The shop sells about 200 mugs per day. Customer surveys
show that for every $0.05 decrease in the price, the shop will sell 10 more mugs per day.
a) Determine the maximum daily revenue from coffee sales and the price per mug for this revenue.
b) Write an equation in both standard form and vertex form to model this problem. Then sketch the graph.

Example
For the quadratic function 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 10 in the standard form
a) Determine the factor form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑟)(𝑥 − 𝑠) of the equation
b) Use the equation from part a), determine the zeros and the axis of symmetry of the function
c) Use the results from part b), determine the vertex form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘 of the function, then state the coordinate of the vertex.
d) Sketch the function.

Practice
1. The quadratic relation 𝑦 = 2(𝑥 + 4)2 − 7 is translated 5 units right and 3 units down. What is the minimum value of the new
relation? Write the equation of this relation in vertex form.

2. The graph of 𝑦 = −2(𝑥 + 5)2 + 8 is translated so that its new zeros are −4 and 2. Determine the total translation that was
applied to the original graph.

3. A dance club has a $5 cover charge and averages 300 customers on Friday nights. Over the past several months, the club has
changed the cover price several times to see how this affects the number of customers. For every increase of $0.50 in the cover charge,
the number of customers decreases by 30. Use an algebraic model to determine the cover charge that maximizes revenue.

4. A bridge is going to be constructed over a river. The river is 18 m wide and the arch will be anchored on the ground, 3 m back from
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the riverbank on both sides. The maximum height of the arch must be between 22 m and 26 m above the surface of the river. Create
two different equations to represent arches that satisfy these conditions.

5. A movie theatre can accommodate a maximum of 350 moviegoers per day. The theatre operators have been changing the admission
price to find out how price affects ticket sales and profit. Currently, they charge $11 a person and sell about 300 tickets per day. After
reviewing their data, the theatre operators discovered that they could express the relation between profit, 𝑃, and the number of $1
price increases, 𝑥, as 𝑃 = 20(15 − 𝑥)(11 + 𝑥)
a) Determine the vertex form of the profit equation.
b) What ticket price results in the maximum profit? What is the maximum profit? About how many tickets will be sold at this price?

6. The underside of a bridge forms a parabolic arch. The arch has a maximum height of 30 m and a width of 50 m. Can a sailboat pass
under the bridge, 8 m from the axis of symmetry, if the top of its mast is 27 m above the water? Justify your solution.

7. The equation of a parabola is 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 1)2 + 𝑞, and the points (−1, −9) and (1, 1) lie on the parabola. Determine the
maximum value of 𝑦.

8. A rectangular swimming pool has a row of water fountains along each of its two longer sides. The two rows of fountains are 10 m
apart. Each fountain sprays an identical parabolic-shaped stream of water a total horizontal distance of 8 m toward the opposite side.
Looking from one end of the pool, the streams of water from the two sides cross each other in the middle of the pool at a height of 3
m.
a) Determine an equation that represents a stream of water from the left side and another equation that represents a stream of water
from the right side. Graph both equations on the same set of axes.
b) Determine the maximum height of the water.

9. A farmer has $3000 to spend on fencing for two adjoining rectangular pastures, both with the same dimensions. A local contracting
company can build the fence for $5.00/m. What is the largest total area that the farmer can have fenced for this price?

10. A city transit system carries an average of 9450 people per day on its buses, at a fare of $1.75 each. The city wants to maximize
the transit system’s revenue by increasing the fare. A survey shows that the number of riders will decrease by 210 for every $0.05
increase in the fare. What fare will result in the greatest revenue? How many daily riders will they lose at this new fare?

11. A dance club has a $5 cover charge and averages 300 customers on Friday nights. Over the past several months, the club has
changed the cover price several times to see how this affects the number of customers. For every increase of $0.50 in the cover charge,
the number of customers decreases by 30. Use an algebraic model to determine the cover charge that maximizes revenue.

12. A flower nursery produces plants for selling to the public. This spring, they plan to produce 5000 plants and then sell them for $2
each. A market study suggests that for every $0.20 increase in price the number of plants sold will decrease by 200.
a) Determine the best selling price to maximize revenue.
b) What is the maximum revenue the nursery can get?

13. Cam has 46 m of fencing to enclose a meditation space on the grounds of his local hospital. He has decided that the meditation
space should be rectangular, with fencing on only three sides. What dimensions will give the patients the maximum amount of
meditation space?

14. A theater company has 300 season ticket subscribers. The board of directors has decided to raise the price of a season ticket from

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the current price of $400. A survey of the subscribers has determined that, for every $20 increase in price, 10 subscribers would not
renew their season tickets. What price would maximize the revenue from season tickets?

Completing the square is another way to rewrite a quadratic relation that is in standard form, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, in its equivalent
vertex form, 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘.

When completing the square:

𝑏 2 𝑏 2
1) If (𝑥 + 𝑏)2 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑏𝑥 + 𝑏 2 , then (𝑥 + 2 ) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + (2) . So, in all perfect-square trinomials, the constant term is half the

𝒃 𝟐
coefficient of the 𝑥 term squared. To create a perfect square that includes 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, add and subtract (𝟐) , then complete the

square.

2) To create a perfect square that includes 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, factor out 𝑎 and then create a perfect square as in part 1).

Example
Determine the value of 𝑐 needed to create a perfect-square trinomial
a) 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 𝑐
b) 𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 + 𝑐
c) 2𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 𝑐
d) −3𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 + 𝑐

Example
Find the vertex of each of the following quadratic relation.
a) 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 63 (by finding the zeros first)
b) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 30 (by finding the zeros first)
c) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 17 (by completing the square)
d) 𝑦 = −2𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 1 (by completing the square)

Example
Cassidy’s diving platform is 6 ft above the water. One of her dives can be modelled by the equation 𝑑 = 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 6, where 𝑑 is her
position relative to the surface of the water and x is her horizontal distance from the platform. Both distances are measured in feet.
How deep did Cassidy go before coming back up to the surface?

Example
The automated hose on an aerial ladder sprays water on a forest fire. The height of the water, ℎ, in meters, can be modelled by the
relation ℎ = −2.25𝑥 2 + 4.5𝑥 + 6.75, where 𝑥 is the horizontal distance, in meters, of the water from the nozzle of the hose.
Write the height relation ℎ = −2.25𝑥 2 + 4.5𝑥 + 6.75 in vertex form by completing the square to determine the maximum height.

Practice
1. Complete the square to express each relation in vertex form. Then describe the transformations that must be applied to the graph of
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 to graph the relation.
a) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 4
b) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 36
c) 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 + 36
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d) 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 6
e) 𝑦 = 0.5𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 8
f) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 3
g) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 3
h) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5
i) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 + 30
j) 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 − 17
k) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 8
l) 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 2
m) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 2
n) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 + 95
o) 𝑦 = −3𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 2
p) 𝑦 = 0.2𝑥 2 − 0.4𝑥 + 1
q) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 − 12
r) 𝑦 = −4.9𝑥 2 − 19.6𝑥 + 12

2. Joan kicked a soccer ball. The height of the ball, ℎ, in meters, can be modelled by ℎ = −1.2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥, where 𝑥 is the horizontal
distance, in meters, from where she kicked the ball.
a) What was the initial height of the ball when she kicked it? How do you know?
b) Complete the square to write the relation in vertex form.
c) State the vertex of the relation.
d) What does each coordinate of the vertex represent in this situation?
e) How far did Joan kick the ball?

3. Carly has just opened her own nail salon. Based on experience, she knows that her daily profit, 𝑃, in dollars, can be modelled by
the relation 𝑃 = −15𝑥 2 + 240𝑥 − 64, where 𝑥 is the number of clients per day. How many clients should she book each day to
maximize her profit?

4. The cost, 𝐶, in dollars, to hire landscapers to weed and seed a local park can be modelled by 𝐶 = 6𝑥 2 − 60𝑥 + 900, where 𝑥 is
the number of landscapers hired to do the work. How many landscapers should be hired to minimize the cost?

5. The main character in a video game, Tammy, must swing on a vine to cross a river. If she grabs the vine at a point that is too low
and swings within 80 cm of the surface of the river, a crocodile will come out of the river and catch her. From where she is standing on
the riverbank, Tammy can reach a point on the vine where her height above the river, ℎ, is modelled by the relation ℎ = 12𝑥 2 −
76.8𝑥 + 198, where 𝑥 is the horizontal distance of her swing from her starting point. Should Tammy jump? Justify your answer.

6. Martha bakes and sells her own organic dog treats for $15/kg. For every $1 price increase, she will lose sales. Her revenue, R, in
dollars, can be modelled by 𝑅 = −10𝑥 2 + 100𝑥 + 3750, where 𝑥 is the number of $1 increases. What selling price will maximize
her revenue?

7. For his costume party, Byron hung a spider from a spring that was attached to the ceiling at one end. Fern hit the spider so that it
began to bounce up and down. The height of the spider above the ground, ℎ, in centimeters, during one bounce can be modelled by
ℎ = 10𝑡 2 − 40𝑡 + 240, where 𝑡 seconds is the time since the spider was hit. When was the spider closest to the ground during this
bounce?

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8. A basketball player makes a long pass to another player. The path of the ball can be modelled by 𝑦 = −0.2𝑥 2 + 2.4𝑥 + 2, where 𝑥
is the horizontal distance from the player and 𝑦 is the height of the ball above the court, both in meters. Determine the maximum
height of the ball.

*9. Bob wants to cut a wire that is 60 cm long into two pieces. Then he wants to make each piece into a square. Determine how the
wire should be cut so that the total area of the two squares is as small as possible.

*10. Kayli wants to build a parabolic bridge over a stream in her backyard as shown at the left. The bridge must span a width of 200
cm. It must be at least 51 cm high where it is 30 cm from the bank on each side. How high will her bridge be?

*11. A parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 𝑚 has its minimum value of 8. Find 𝑚.

*12. If a parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3 − 𝑎 has only one intersection with 𝑥-axis. Find the value of 𝑎.

*13. Tanya has a rectangular field to enclose but she only has 600m of fencing. What are the dimensions that give her the maximum
area? What is the maximum area?

More Practice
1. The sum of a number and three times another number is 18. Find the numbers if their product is a maximum.
2. Two numbers have a difference of 16. Find the numbers if the result of adding their sum and their product is a minimum.
3. A rectangular lot is bordered on one side by a stream and on the other three sides by 600m of fencing. Find the dimensions of the lot
if its area is a maximum.
4. A lifeguard marks off a rectangular swimming area at a beach with 200m of rope. What is the greatest area of water she can
enclose?
5. A rectangular area is enclosed by a fence and divided by another section of fence parallel to two of its sides. If the 600m of fence
used encloses a maximum area, what are the dimensions of the enclosure?
6. A theatre seats 2000 people and charges $10 for a ticket. At this price, all the tickets can be sold. A survey indicates that if the ticket
price is increased, the number sold will decrease by 100 for every dollar of increase. What ticket price would result in the greatest
revenue?
7. A bus company carries about 20000 riders per day for a fare of 90 cents. A survey indicates that if the fare is decreased, the number
of riders will increase by 2000 for every 5 cents decrease. What ticket price would result in the greatest revenue?
8. It costs a bus company $225 to run a minibus on a ski trip, plus $30 per passenger. The bus has seating for 22 passengers, and the
company charges $60 per fare if the bus is full. For each empty seat, the company has to increase the ticket price by $5. How many
empty seats should the bus run with to maximize profit? (8)
9. Lemon Motors has been selling an average of 60 new cars per month at $800 over the factory price. They are considering an
increase in this markup. A marketing survey indicates that for every $20 increase, they will sell one less car each month. What should
their new markup be to maximize income? ($1000)
10. Maria produces and sells shell necklaces. The material for each necklace costs her $4. She has been selling them for $8 each and
averaging sales of 40 per week. She has been told that she could charge ore but has found that for each $0.5 increase in price, she
would lose 4 sales each week. What selling price should she set and what would her profit per week be at this price? ($8.50, $162).
11. A 135-kg steer gains 3.5 kg/day and costs 80 cents/day to keep. The market price for beef cattle is $1.65/kg, but the price falls by 1
cent/day. When should the steer be sold for maximum profit? (52th day)

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