quadratics [74 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 8]
Irina uses a set of coordinate axes to draw her design of a window. The base of
the window is on the x-axis, the upper part of the window is in the form of a
quadratic curve and the sides are vertical lines, as shown on the diagram. The
curve has end points (0, 10) and (8, 10) and its vertex is (4, 12). Distances

are measured in centimetres.

The quadratic curve can be expressed in the form y = ax

2
+ bx + c for

0 ≤ x ≤ 8.

(a.i) Write down the value of c. [1]

([Link]) Hence form two equations in terms of a and b. [2]

([Link]) Hence find the equation of the quadratic curve. [2]

(b) Find the area of the shaded region in Irina’s design. [3]

2. [Maximum mark: 9]
An athlete on a horizontal athletic field throws a discus. The height of the discus
above the field, in metres, after it is thrown can be modelled using a quadratic
function of the form f (x) = ax
2
+ bx + c, where x represents the

horizontal distance, in metres, that the discus has travelled from the athlete.

A specialized camera tracks the initial path of the discus after it is thrown by the
athlete. The camera records that the discus travels through the three points
(3 , 2. 82), (6 , 4. 25) and (9 , 5. 30), as shown in Diagram 1.

(a) Use the coordinates (3 , 2. 82) to write down an equation in

terms of a, b and c. [1]

(b) Use your answer to part (a) and two similar equations to find
the equation of the quadratic model for the height of the
discus. [3]

A 1. 8-metre-high wall is 30 metres from where the athlete threw the discus, as
shown in Diagram 2.
 (c) Show that the model predicts that the discus will go over the
wall. [3]

(d) Find the horizontal distance that the discus will travel, from the
athlete until it first hits the ground, according to this model. [2]

3. [Maximum mark: 6]
A meteorologist models the height of a hot air balloon launched from the
ground. The model assumes the balloon travels vertically upwards and travels
450 metres in the first minute.

Due to the decrease in temperature as the balloon rises, the balloon will
continually slow down. The model suggests that each minute the balloon will
travel only 82% of the distance travelled in the previous minute.

(a) Find how high the balloon will travel in the first 10 minutes
after it is launched. [3]

(b) The balloon is required to reach a height of at least 2520

metres.

Determine whether it will reach this height. [2]

(c) Suggest a limitation of the given model. [1]

4. [Maximum mark: 5]
The height of a baseball after it is hit by a bat is modelled by the function

2
h(t) = −4. 8t + 21t + 1. 2

where h(t) is the height in metres above the ground and t is the time in
seconds after the ball was hit.
 (a) Write down the height of the ball above the ground at the
instant it is hit by the bat. [1]

(b) Find the value of t when the ball hits the ground. [2]

(c) State an appropriate domain for t in this model. [2]

5. [Maximum mark: 5]
The cross-section of an arched entrance into the ballroom of a hotel is in the
shape of a parabola. This cross-section can be modelled by part of the graph
+ 4. 48x, where y is the height of the archway, in metres, at a
2
y = −1. 6x

horizontal distance, x metres, from the point O, in the bottom corner of the
archway.

(a) Determine an equation for the axis of symmetry of the parabola

that models the archway. [2]

To prepare for an event, a square-based crate that is 1. 6 m wide and 2. 0 m

high is to be moved through the archway into the ballroom. The crate must
remain upright while it is being moved.

(b) Determine whether the crate will fit through the archway.
Justify your answer. [3]
6. [Maximum mark: 8]
A player throws a basketball. The height of the basketball is modelled by

+ 8. 75t + 1. 5, t ≥ 0,
2
h(t) = −4. 75t

where h is the height of the basketball above the ground, in metres, and t is the
time, in seconds, after it was thrown.

(a) Find how long it takes for the basketball to reach its maximum
height. [2]

(b) Assuming that no player catches the basketball, find how long
it would take for the basketball to hit the ground. [2]

Another player catches the basketball when it is at a height of 1. 2 metres.

(c) Find the value of t when this player catches the basketball. [2]

(d) Write down two limitations of using h(t) to model the height
of the basketball. [2]

7. [Maximum mark: 7]
The growth of a particular type of seashell is being studied by Manon. At the end
of each month Manon records the increase in the width of a seashell since the
end of the previous month.

She models the monthly increase in the width of the seashell by a geometric
sequence with common ratio 0. 8. In the first month, the width of the seashell
increases by 4 mm.

(a) Find by how much the width of the seashell will increase during
the third month, according to her model. [2]

(b) Find the total increase in the width of the seashell, predicted by
Manon’s model, during the first year.
 [2]

Manon’s seashell had a width of 25 mm at the beginning of the first month.

(c) Find the maximum possible width of the seashell, predicted by

Manon’s model. [3]

8. [Maximum mark: 26]

In this question you will use a historic method of calculating the cost of a
barrel of wine to determine which shape of barrel gives the best value for
money.

In Austria in the 17th century, one method for measuring the volume of a barrel
of wine, and hence determining its cost, was by inserting a straight stick into a
hole in the side, as shown in the following diagram, and measuring the length
SD. The longer the length, the greater the cost to the customer.

Let SD be d metres and the cost be C gulden (the local currency at the time).
When the length of SD was 0. 5 metres, the cost was 0. 80 gulden.

(a) Given that C was directly proportional to d, find an equation

for C in terms of d. [3]
A particular barrel of wine cost 0. 96 gulden.

(b) Show that d = 0. 6. [1]

This method of determining the cost was noticed by a mathematician, Kepler,

who decided to try to calculate the dimensions of a barrel which would give the
maximum volume of wine for a given length SD.

Initially he modelled the barrel as a cylinder, with S at the midpoint of one side.
He took the length of the cylinder as 2h metres and its radius as r metres, as
shown in the following diagram of the cross-section.

diagram not to scale

(c) Find an expression for r 2 in terms of d and h. [3]

Let the volume of this barrel be V m

3
.

(d) π
Show that V =
2
(d h − h ).
2 3
[2]

The remainder of this question considers the shape of barrel that gives the best
value when d = 0. 6.

(e.i) Use the formula from part (d) to find the volume of this barrel
when h = 0. 4. [2]

([Link]) Use differentiation to show that h = √ 0. 12 when

dV
= 0.
dh
 [3]

([Link]) Given that this value of h maximizes the volume, find the
largest possible volume of this barrel. [2]

Kepler then considered a non-cylindrical barrel whose base and lid are circles
with radius 0. 2 m and whose length is 0. 8 m.

He modelled the curved surface of this barrel by rotating a quadratic curve,

ASB, with equation y + bx + c, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0. 8, about the x-axis.
2
= ax

The origin of the coordinate system is at the centre of one of the circular faces as
shown in the following diagram. S is at the vertex of the quadratic curve and
SD = 0. 6.

Kepler wished to find out if his barrel would give him more wine than any
cylindrical barrel with d = 0. 6.

The coordinates of A and B are (0, 0. 2) and (0. 8, 0. 2) respectively.

(f ) Find the equation of the quadratic curve, ASB. [6]

(g) Show that the volume of this barrel is greater than the
maximum volume of any cylindrical barrel with d = 0. 6. [3]

(h) State one assumption, not already given, that has been made in
using these models to find the shape of the barrel that gives the
best value. [1]

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