IB Style Questions – Mathematical Models

Quadratic Functions

Question Score Out of Comment

1 6

2 6

3 6

4 6

5 6

6 6

7 6

8 18

9 14

10 16

Total 90

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Question 1
Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 𝑘 where ∈ 𝑍 .

a. If 𝑓(2) = 18 , then find 𝑘 .

b. Find (−1) .
1
c. One of the roots of 𝑓(𝑥) is = 2 . Find the other root.

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

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 (6 marks)

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Question 2
1
Consider the function 𝑔(𝑥) = 24 + 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 2 for ∈ 𝑅 .

a. Find the coordinates of the vertex point for the graph of 𝑔(𝑥).

b. For what values of 𝑥 is 𝑔(𝑥) increasing?

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 3
a. Factor the expression 6𝑥 2 − 5 + 13𝑥 .

b. By using your result from part (a), or otherwise, find the roots of the
function ℎ(𝑥) = 6𝑥 2 − 5 + 13 𝑥 .
−13
c. The vertex point of the graph of ℎ(𝑥) occurs at the point where 𝑥 = ,
𝑛
where ∈ 𝑍 . Find the value of 𝑛.

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________
(6 marks)

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Question 4
Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑝 + 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑥 2 where 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 and where 𝑝 and 𝑞 ∈ 𝑍 .

a. If 𝑓(𝑥) has roots at 𝑥 = 1 and = −5 , then find the values of 𝑝 and 𝑞 .

b. Determine the values of 𝑥 where the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is increasing.

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 5
Consider the function 𝑔(𝑥) = −(𝑥 − 3)2 + 3𝑥 2 − 2 .

a. Write 𝑔(𝑥) in the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ 𝑍 .

b. Find the equation of the axis of symmetry for the graph of 𝑔(𝑥) .

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 6
Consider the function ℎ(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 − 8 where 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.

a. Find the 𝑦-intercept for the graph of ℎ(𝑥).

b. One of the roots of ℎ(𝑥) is at 𝑥 = −4 . Find the other root.

c. Determine the equation for the axis of symmetry for the graph of ℎ(𝑥) .

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 7
Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 6𝑥 − 𝑥 2 where 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.

a. Determine the coordinates of the vertex point of the graph of 𝑓(𝑥).

b. Identify the vertex point as a maximum point or a minimum point.

c. Determine the values of 𝑥 for which the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is increasing.

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 8
a. Consider the following function:

𝑓 ∶ 𝑥 → 5 + 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 where −2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6 .

(i) Copy and complete the table of values shown below: [2 marks]

𝑥 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝑓(𝑥) -7 5 8 5 -7

(ii) Draw the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) using a scale of 1 cm per unit on

the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 and a scale of 0.5 cm per unit on the 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. [5 marks]

(iii) Determine the equation of the axis of symmetry for

the graph of 𝑓(𝑥). [2 marks]

(iv) Determine the coordinates of the graph's vertex point. [2 marks]

(v) By using your graph, or otherwise, determine the roots

of (𝑥) . [2 marks]

𝑥
b. Consider a second function 𝑔 ∶ 𝑥 → 5 − where 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.
2

(i) Draw and clearly label the graph of 𝑔(𝑥) on the same
set of axes used for 𝑓(𝑥) in part (a). [2 marks]

(ii) Use your graph to determine the approximate values of 𝑥

𝑥
for which 5 − 2 ≤ 5 + 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 . [3 marks]

(18 total marks)

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Question 9
a. An image from a GDC is shown below:

The function representing this parabola can be written in

the general form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 + 𝑎𝑥 2 where 𝑎, 𝑐 ∈ 𝑅.

Which of the following conditions concerning the variables

𝑎 and 𝑐 must apply to this suggested function? [4 marks]

𝑐 <0 𝑐=0 𝑐>0

𝑎<0 𝑎=0 𝑎>0

b. Consider the function 𝑔(𝑥) = 5 − (𝑥 + 3)2 where 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.

(i) Write 𝑔(𝑥) in the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 where 𝑎 , 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ 𝑍 . [3 marks]

(ii) Determine the equation of the axis of symmetry for the

graph of 𝑔(𝑥) . [2 marks]
2
c. Consider the function ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 6 where ∈ 𝑅 .
3

(i) Sketch the graphs of ℎ(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) from part (b) above
on the same set of axes. Clearly label each curve. [3 marks]

(ii) Approximate the value of 𝑥 > 0 where 𝑔(𝑥) = ℎ(𝑥).

Write your answer accurate to two significant figures. [2 marks]

(14 total marks)

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Question 10
a. A quadratic function 𝑓(𝑥) is known to have two roots,
5
𝑥1 = 2 and 𝑥2 = −3 .

𝑓(𝑥) can be written as 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 where

𝑏 and 𝑐 ∈ 𝑍. Find the values of 𝑏 and 𝑐 . [4 marks]

b. A quadratic function 𝑔(𝑥) is shown below:

𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 4)2

(i) Write 𝑔(𝑥) in the form 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 where

𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ 𝑍. [3 marks]

(ii) Sketch the graph of 𝑔(𝑥). [3 marks]

(iii) Determine the coordinates of the vertex point of

the graph of 𝑔(𝑥) . [2 marks]

(iv) Determine the root(s) of 𝑔(𝑥). [2 marks]

(v) Deduce a general statement about the relationship

between the root(s) and the vertex point of the
graph of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 𝑐)2 where 𝑐 > 0. [2 marks]

(16 total marks)

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