Linear and Quadratic Functions

On completion of this module you should be able to:

define the terms function, domain, range, gradient,
independent/dependent variable
use function notation
recognise the relationship between functions and
equations
graph linear and quadratic functions
calculate the function given initial values (gradient, 1 or 2
coordinates)
solve problems using functions
model elementary supply and demand curves using
functions and solve associated problems

Functions
A function describes the relationship that exists
between two sets of numbers.
Put another way, a function is a rule applied to one
set of numbers to produce a second set of
numbers.

Example: Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius

5
C F 32
9
This rule operates on values of F to produce
values of C.

The values of F are called input values and the

set of possible input values is called the domain.
The values of C are called output values and the
set of output values produced by the domain is
called the range.
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Function Notation
Consider the function

x
f ( x)
x3

The x are the input values and f(x), read f of x, are

the output values.
The domain is the set of positive real numbers
including 0 and excepting 3. (Why?) The output
values produced by the domain is the range.
Sometimes the symbol y is used instead of f(x).
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Function and Equations

An equation is produced when a function takes on
a specific output value.
eg f(x) = 3x + 6 is a function.
When f(x) = 0, then the equation becomes
0 = 3x + 6
which can be easily solved (to give x = 2)
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This is shown graphically as follows:

f (x)

(0,6)
(2,0)

f ( x) 0

Graphing Functions
Input and output values form coordinate pairs:
(x, f(x)) or (x, y).
x values measure the distance from the origin in the
horizontal direction and f(x) values the distance
from the origin in the vertical direction.
To plot a straight line (linear function), 2 sets of
coordinates (3 sets is better) must be calculated. For
other functions, a selection of x values should be
made and coordinates calculated.
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Example: Linear Function

Graph f(x) = 2x 4

3
0

f ( x)

2(3) 4 10
2(0) 4 4

2(3) 4 2

(3,10)
(0,4)

(3, 2)

f (x)
2

f ( x) 2 x 4

Example: Quadratic Function

Graph the function:
f ( x) 2 x 2 5 x 2
At the y-intercept, x = 0, so
f ( x) 2 0 5 0 2 2
2

and the coordinate is (0,2).

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At the x-intercept, f(x) = 0, so

0 2 x 5x 2
2

5 (5) 2 4 2 2
x
2 2
53

4
2 or 0.5

and the coordinates are (2,0) and (0.5,0).

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b
Vertex: x
2a
5

1.25
2(2)
When x 1.25,
2
f ( x) 2(1.25) 5(1.25) 2 1.125
The coordinates of the vertex are: (1.25, 1.125).

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f (x)

2 (0,2)

f ( x) 2 x 2 5 x 2

(0.5,0)
1

2
(2,0)

-1
(1.25, -1.125)
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Linear Functions
All linear functions (or equations) have the
following features:
a slope or gradient (m)
a y-intercept (b)
If (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are two points on the line then
the gradient is given by:
y2 y1
m
x2 x1
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Gradient is a measure of the steepness of the

line.

If m > 0, then the line rises from left to right.

If m < 0, the line falls from left to right.

A horizontal line has a gradient of 0;

a vertical line has an undefined gradient.

The y-intercept is calculated by substituting

x = 0 into the equation for the line.
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All straight line functions can be expressed in

the form
y = mx + b
Note: The standard form equation for linear
functions is Ax + By + C = 0.
Equations in this form are not as useful as when
expressed as y = mx + b.
Equations can be derived in the following way,
depending on what information is given.
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Deriving Straight Line Functions

1. Given (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)

y y1 y 2 y1

x x1
x 2 x1
2. Given m and (x1, y1)
y y1 m( x x1 )
3. Given m and b
y mx b
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Problem: Depreciation

A tractor costs $60,000 to purchase and has a

useful life of 10 years.
It then has a scrap value of $15,000.
Find the equation for the book value of the
tractor and its value after 6 years.

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V
60,000

?
15,000

10

t
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Value (V) depends on time (t).

t is called the independent variable and
V the dependent variable.
The independent variable is always plotted on the
horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the
vertical axis.

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When t 0, V 60,000
(0, 60,000)
( x1 , y1 )
When t 10, V 15,000
(10, 15,000)
( x2 , y2 )

Given two points, the equation becomes:

y 60,000 15,000 60,000

x0
10 0
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y 60,000
4500
x
y 60,000 4500 x
y 4500 x 60,000

or more correctly
V 4500t 60,000

When t 6, V 4500 6 60,000 33,000

The book value of the tractor after 6 years is $33,000.
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Example
Suppose a manufacturer of shoes will place on the
market 50 (thousand pairs) when the price is $35
(per pair) and 35 (thousand pairs) when the price is
$30 (per pair).
Find the supply equation, assuming that price p
and quantity q are linearly related.

(50, 35) ( x1 , y )
1

(35, 30) ( x2 , y2 )
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(50, 35) ( x1 , y1 )
(35, 30) ( x2 , y2 )

y y1 y2 y1

x x1 x2 x1

y 35 30 35

x 50 35 50
y 35 1

x 50 3

1
y 35 ( x 50)
3
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y 35 0.33 x 16.67

y 0.33 x 16.67 35
y 0.33 x 18.33
The supply equation is
p 0.33q 18.33

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Example
For sheep maintained at high environmental
temperatures, respiratory rate r (per minute)
increases as wool length l (in centimetres) decreases.
Suppose sheep with a wool length of 2cm have an
(average) respiratory rate of 160, and those with a
wool length of 4cm have a respiratory rate of 125.
Assume that r and l are linearly related.
(a) Find an equation that gives r in terms of l.
(b) Find the respiratory rate of sheep with a wool
length of 1cm.

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(a) Find r in terms of l

l is independent
r is dependent
Coordinates will be of the form: (l, r).

(2,160) ( x1 , y1 )
(4,125) ( x2 , y2 )
y 2 y1 125 160
m

17.5
x 2 x1
42
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(2, 160), (4, 125)

m 17.5

y y1 m( x x1 )
y 160 17.5( x 2)

y 17.5 x 35 160

y 17.5 x 195

r 17.5l 195

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(b) When l = 1
r 17.5(1) 195
177.5

When wool length is 1 cm, average respiratory

rate will be 177.5 per minute.

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Quadratic Functions
All quadratic functions can be written in the
form
f ( x) ax 2 bx c
where a, b and c are constants and a 0.

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Elementary Supply and Demand

In general, the higher the price, the smaller the
demand is for some item and as the price falls
demand will increase.
p
Demand curve

q
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Concerning supply, the higher the price, the larger

the quantity of some item producers are willing to
supply and as the price falls, supply decreases.
p
Supply curve

q
32

Note that these descriptions of supply and

demand imply that they are dependent on
price (that is, price is the independent
variable) but it is a business standard to plot
supply and demand on the horizontal axis
and price on the vertical axis.

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Example: Equilibrium price

The supply of radios is given as a function of
price by
S p 2 p 2 8 p 12,
2 p5
and demand by
D p p 2 18 p 68,

0 p5

Find the equilibrium price.

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Graphically,
70
equilibrium
price

Note the restricted domains.

35

Algebraically,
D(p) = S(p)

p 18 p 68 2 p 8 p 12
2

p 2 p 18 p 8 p 68 12 0
2

p 10 p 56 0
a 1, b 10, c 56
2

10 (10) 2 4(1)(56)
p
2 1
p 14 or 4
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14 is not in the domain of the functions and so

is rejected.
The equilibrium price is $4.

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Example: Maximising profit

If an apple grower harvests the crop now, she will
pick on average 50 kg per tree and will receive
$0.89 per kg.
For each week she waits, the yield per tree
increases by 5 kg while the price decreases by
$0.03 per kg.
How many weeks should she wait to maximise
sales revenue?
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Weight and Price can both be expressed as

functions of time (t).
W(t) = 50 + 5t
P(t) = 0.89 0.03t
Revenue Weight Price
W (t ) P (t )
(50 5t )(0.89 0.03t )
44.5 1.5t 4.45t 0.15t 2
0.15t 2 2.95t 44.5
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a 0.15 0
Maximum occurs at

b
2.95
t

9.83
2a 2(0.15)
She should wait 9.83 weeks
( 10 weeks) for maximum revenue.
(R = $59 per tree)
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