Graphing Quadratic Functions

Webercise
Virtual Nerd
http://www.virtualnerd.com/algebra-1/quadratic-equationsfunctions/graphing/graph-basics/vertex-definition
1. Watch the video What is the Vertex of a Quadratic Function?. Describe what a vertex of a quadratic
function is.
2. Can the function

f ( x )=x

have a minimum? Explain why or why not.

3. Scroll down and watch the video How Do You Find the Vertex of a Quadratic Function? What is the
formula for the axis of symmetry?
4. In the video, b=12. What would happen to the axis of symmetry if b= -12?
5. Find the vertex of the equation in the video if b = -12 instead of b=12.
6. Scroll down and watch the video What is the Standard Form of a Quadratic Function? Explain why a
cannot equal zero. (The answer is not in the video. You will have to think about the reason.)
7. If b=0, is the function still in standard form? Explain why or why not.

GeoGebra
https://www.geogebra.org/m/CRDXkxFd
Click on a and drag it until a=1. Then drag b until b=0 and drag c until c=0. Click on the box to Show
Vertex.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

What is the quadratic equation we created? Name the function and sketch it.
Click on a and drag it up and down. What happens to the vertex as a changes from positive to negative?
Reset a back to a=1. Now drag b up and down. How does the vertex move and b changes?
You may leave b in any position. Drag c up and down. How does the vertex move as c changes?
Drag a, b, and c however youd like. Create and sketch two functions you have created.

https://www.geogebra.org/m/YxN4ZFht
13. Click and drag the vertex and the y-intercept to match the path of the basketball to the quadratic function.
Do you think the ball will go in? Why or why not? If not, find a function that the basketball should have
followed so that the ball goes in the hoop.

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XGugy0dx3o
14. Why do you think the graph of an object being thrown up into the air is always an upside down parabola?
15. What does it mean when the height equals zero?
16. In the second example, we have an extraneous solution. What is an extraneous solution?
17. Why is

t=

1
2

an extraneous solution?

18. In the second example, we only found out how long the flare was in the air. Using the given quadratic
equation of the flare being shot up into the air, find the maximum height of the flare.