SKETCHING PARABOLAS USING FACTORS SOLUTIONS

TASK 1 Drawing a rough sketch

x-intercepts y-intercept Vertex Sketch

a y = x2 + 8x + 15 When x = 0, x
 5    3
y = (x + 5)(x + 3) y = 02 + 8 × 0 + 15 2
 4
When y = 0, = 15
x = –5 or –3 When x = –4,
y = (–4)2 + 8 × –4 + 15
= –1
(–4, –1)

b y = x2 – 16 When x = 0, x = 0 (halfway between

y = (x + 4)(x – 4) y = –16 –4 and 4)
When y = 0, When x = 0,
x = –4 or 4 y = –16
(0, –16)
(The vertex is at the
y-intercept.)

1
c y = –x2 + 5x When x = 0, x=2
2
y = –x(x – 5) y=0 (between 0 and 5)
When y = 0, (the origin) 1
When x = 2 ,
x = 0 or 5 2
1 1
y = –(2 )2 + 5 × 2
2 2
1
=6
4
1 1
(2 , 6 )
2 4

d y = x2 – 10 + 25 When x = 0, The vertex is at (5, 0)

y = (x – 5)2 y = 25 since the parabola has
only one x-intercept.
When y = 0,
x=5
TASK 2 Writing the equation

1 a b c

Concave up so a = 1. Concave up so a = 1. Concave down so a = –1.

For the x-intercepts to be –5 Factored form: Only one x-intercept means
and 2, the factored form it is a perfect square.
y = x(x – 8)
must be: Factored form:
General form:
y = (x + 5)(x – 2) y = –(x + 1)2
y = x2– 8x
Expand for general form: General form:
y = x2 + 3x – 10 y = –x2 – 2x – 1

2 Challenge: First write the equation in factored form and then use the y-intercept or vertex to find
the value of a. Finally, expand to write the general form.

a y = a(x + 5)(x – 2) Factored form:

When x = 0, y = –20 y = 2(x + 5)(x – 2)

General form:
–20 = a(0 + 5)(0 – 2)
y = 2x2 + 6x – 20
–20 = a × 5 × –2
–20 = –10a
a= 2

b y = ax(x – 6) Factored form:

1 1
When x = 3, y = 4 y = – x(x – 6)
2 2
1
4 = a × 3 × (3 – 6) General form:
2
1
1 y = – x2 + 3x
4 = a × 3 × –3 2
2
1
4 = –9a
2
1
a=–
2