CHAPTER 7 : QUADRATIC FUNCTION

Objectives:
At the end of each week, the students should be able to
i. solve a quadratic equation using the formula
ii. sketch the graph of the quadratic function
iii. determine equilibrium price and quantity

7.1 Introduction

A quadratic function is one of the form 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 where

𝑎 ≠ 0. In quadratic function, the greatest power of the variable is 2. The
graph of the quadratic function is a parabola (u shape).

7.2 Determining quadratic functions

A quadratic function is determined by three points. Given three points

on the graph, of a quadratic function, we can work out the function by
finding 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 algebraically.

Example 7.1:
Form a quadratic function that passes through the point (-3, 0), (0, 3)
and (1,0).

Solution:
Quadratic function : 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

at (-3, 0): 0 = 𝑎(−3)2 + 𝑏(−3) + 𝑐

9𝑎 − 3𝑏 + 𝑐 = 0 − −(1) -------> when 𝑐 = 3, 9𝑎 − 3𝑏 = −3 −
− − (1𝑎)

at (0, 3): 3 = 𝑎(0)2 + 𝑏(0) + 𝑐

𝑐 = 3 − − − − − − − (2)

at (1, 0) and 𝑐 = 3, 0 = 𝑎(1)2 + 𝑏(1) + 3

𝑎 + 𝑏 = −3 − − − − − (3)

(1𝑎) ÷ 3: 3𝑎 − 𝑏 = −1 − − − −(1𝑏)
(1𝑏) + (3): 4𝑎 = −4
𝑎 = −1

when 𝑎 = −1, 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 3 ∶ (−1) + 𝑏 = −3

𝑏 = −2

∴ 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3

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Exercise 7.1

Given the following points on a parabola, find the equation of the quadratic function:
(1,1); (2,4); (3,9).

Answer : 𝑦 = 𝑥 2

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7.3 Sketch a quadratic function

Steps to follow:
1. Identify the concavity of the function. A parabola can either be
concave up (smile: ∪) or concave down (sad : ∩), depends on the
value of the coefficient of 𝑥 2 or the value of 𝑎. If 𝑎 > 0, we will get
concave up parabola. When 𝑎 < 0, we will get concave down
parabola.
2. Find the vertex of the function. Vertex means the highest or
lowest point in a parabola. The formula:
−𝑏
𝑥= 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
2𝑎
3. Find 𝑥 −intercepts and 𝑦 −intercept point(s)
note : 𝑥 −intercepts, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑦 −intercept, 𝑥 = 0

4. Sketch the graph using points from step 2 and 3

Exercise 7.2 : Sketch a quadratic function (a parabola)

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8

Step 1: Concavity Step 3: 𝑦 − intercept

Concave up (smile) (0, -8)

Step 2: Vertex

(1, -8)

Step 4 : sketch the parabola

Step 3: 𝑥 − intercepts

(4, 0), (-2,0)

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𝑓(𝑥) = 4 − 𝑥 − 3𝑥 2

Step 1 : Concavity Step 3 : 𝑦 − intercept

concave down (sad) (0, 4)

Step 2: Vertex :

1 49
(− , ) @ (−0.17,4.08)
6 12 Step 4 : sketch the parabola

Step 3: 𝑥 − intercepts

(−1.33, 0)(1, 0)

7.4 Applications of quadratic functions in business management and economics

Quadratic functions are used to:

1. model situations and relationships in business management
and economics (such as finding break-even point and market
equilibrium),
2. identify maximum or minimum point (i.e production quantity,
revenue, profit, and cost).

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Exercise 7.3 Application of quadratic function

Find the maximum value of 𝑓(𝑥) = 7 − 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 .

Find vertex

𝑏 −(−2)
𝑥=− =− = −1
2𝑎 2(−1)

𝑦 = 𝑓(1) = 7 − 2(−1) − (−1)2

=8

∴ (−1, 8) is a maximum point

A company manufactures and sells 𝑞 vacuum cleaners per month. The monthly cost
function and demand equation are
𝑐(𝑞) = 180𝑞 + 20,000
𝑝 = 220 − 0.01𝑞

i. Find the revenue function, 𝑅(𝑞)

𝑅(𝑞) = 𝑝. 𝑞
= (220 − 0.01𝑞)𝑞
= 220𝑞 − 0.01𝑞2

ii. Find the profit function, 𝑃(𝑞)

𝑃(𝑞) = 𝑅(𝑞) − 𝐶(𝑞)

= 220 − 0.01𝑞2 − (180𝑞 + 20 000)

= −0.01𝑞2 + 40𝑞 − 20 000

iii. How many vacuum cleaners should the company sell each month to maximize its
monthly profit?

Find vertex

−𝑏 −40
𝑞= 2𝑎
= 2(−0.01) = 2000 (units)

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7.5 Tutorial questions

1. State whether the function is quadratic:

i. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 2 Answer: Quadratic

ii. 1 Answer: Not Quadratic

𝑔(𝑥) =
2𝑥 2 −4

iii. 𝑔(𝑥) = 7 − 6𝑥 Answer: Not Quadratic

iv. 𝑘(𝑣) = 3𝑣 2 (𝑣 2 + 2) Answer: Not Quadratic

v. ℎ(𝑞) = (3 − 𝑞)2 Answer: Quadratic

vi. 𝑓(𝑡) = 2𝑡(3 − 𝑡) + 4𝑡 Answer: Quadratic

vii. 𝑓(𝑠) = 𝑠 2 − 9 Answer: Quadratic

viii. 𝑠2 − 9 Answer: Quadratic

𝑓(𝑠) =
2

ix. 𝑠2 − 9 Answer: Not Quadratic

𝑓(𝑠) =
2𝑠

x. 1 Answer: Not Quadratic

𝑓(𝑠) =
𝑠2 −9

xi. 𝑔(𝑡) = (𝑡 2 − 1)2 Answer: Not Quadratic

2. State whether the parabola opens upward or downward:

i. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 4 − 𝑥 2 Answer : downward

ii. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥(𝑥 − 1) Answer : upward

iii. 𝑦 = −(𝑥 − 𝑘)2 − 3 Answer : downward

3. For the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6, find:

i. concavity Answer : downward

𝟕 𝟐𝟓
ii. the vertex Answer: (𝟐 , 𝟒 )

iii. the x – intercept Answer : 𝒙 = 𝟏, 𝟔

iv. the y – intercept Answer : 𝒚 = −𝟔

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4. State whether 𝑓(𝑥) = 10 + 16𝑥 − 4𝑥 2 has maximum or minimum value and find
that value.

Answer: Maximum value, 𝒙 =26

5. Form a quadratic function that passes through the point (-3,0), (0,3) and (1,0)

i. Give the vertex of the function.

Answer : Quadratic function : 𝒚 = −𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑

Vertex : (-1, 4)

ii. State whether the function is a minimum or maximum function. Give

your reason.

Answer : max as the value of a is negative (negative coefficient of 𝒙𝟐

indicates max function)

6. Given 𝑦 = (2 − 𝑘)𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8, find the value of 𝑘 if the 𝑥 − coordinate of the

vertex point is 1.

Answer : 𝒌 = 𝟏

Figure 1
7. Find a quadratic function for a parabola in Figure 1.

Answer :
Points given : (2, 0) and (4, 0)
Quadratic function : 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄

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at (0, 4) : 𝟒 = 𝒂(𝟎)𝟐 + 𝒃(𝟎) + 𝒄

𝒄=𝟎
at (2, 0): 𝟎 = 𝒂(𝟐)𝟐 + 𝒃(𝟐) + 𝟒
𝟎 = 𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 + 𝟒
𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 = −𝟒 ------- (1)

−𝒃
vertex point (2, 0), hence , 𝟐 =
𝟐𝒂

𝟒𝒂 = −𝒃
𝒃 = −𝟒𝒂 ---------- (2)
substitute (2) in (1)
𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐(−𝟒𝒂) = −𝟒
𝟒𝒂 − 𝟖𝒂 = −𝟒
−𝟒𝒂 = −𝟒
𝒂=𝟏
when 𝒂 = 𝟏, 𝒃 = −𝟒(𝟏)
= −𝟒
∴ 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟒

8. The profit function for BCB Company is given by 𝑃(𝑥) = −0.1𝑥 2 + 4.6𝑥 − 24.
From the function, identify:

i. what is BCB Company’s loss if they do not sell any product they produce?

𝑷(𝟎) = −𝟎. 𝟏(𝟎)𝟐 + 𝟒. 𝟔(𝟎) − 𝟐𝟒

= −𝟐𝟒 (RM24)

ii. how many products they must sell to break even?

Break-even point, 𝑷(𝒙) = 𝟎

−𝟎. 𝟏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒. 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟐𝟒 = 𝟎
𝒙 = 𝟔 𝐨𝐫 𝟒𝟎 (𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬)

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 iii. how many products they must sell to earn the greatest profit?

−𝒃
maximum point : 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒂
−𝟒.𝟔
= = 𝟐𝟑
𝟐(−𝟎.𝟏)

∴ 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝟐𝟑

9. Consider the table below

𝑥 1 2 3 4 5
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) 9 3 1 3 9

i. Sketch the quadratic graph based on the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦

Answer :

ii. Find the vertex point

Answer : from the graph, (𝒙, 𝒚) = (𝟑, 𝟏)

10. Show that the function is a quadratic function by writing it in the form
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐. List 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐.

i. 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 + 3(𝑥 − 1)2

Answer :
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟏𝟏
𝒂 = 𝟑, 𝒃 = −𝟔, 𝒄 = 11

ii. 𝑓(𝑥) = −(𝑥 − 9)(𝑥 + 4)

Answer :
𝒇(𝒙) = −𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟑𝟔
𝒂 = −𝟏, 𝒃 = 𝟓, 𝒄 = 𝟑𝟔

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11. The quadratic function can be written in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐. If 𝑎 = 2,

and the vertex is at (3, 1), find the values of 𝑏 and 𝑐.

Answer : 𝒃 = −𝟏𝟐, 𝒄 = 𝟏𝟗

12. Find the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏 if the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 passes (3, 4) and has a
vertex at 𝑥 = 2

𝟒 𝟏𝟔
Answer : 𝒂 = − 𝟑 , 𝒃 = 𝟑

13. Suppose the vertex of the parabola 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 𝑘 is (1, 2). Find 𝑘.

Answer : 𝒌 = 𝟓

14. Show that the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 = 0 does not touch 𝑥 − axis.

−𝒃±√𝒃𝟐 −𝟒𝒂𝒄
Answer : As 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒂
is undefined, there is no answer for 𝒙. Therefore
there’s no 𝒙 intercept.

15. The total revenue and total cost of manufacturing 𝑞 power banks (in a week) is
given by

𝑅(𝑞) = 10𝑞 − 0.001𝑞2, 𝐶(𝑞) = 5000 + 2𝑞

Determine how many power banks should the company manufacture each week
to maximise its weekly profit.

Answer : 4000 units

16. A car dealership believes that the daily profit from the sale of minivans is given by
𝑃 (𝑥) = −𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 300, where x is the number of minivans sold. Find the
function’s vertex and intercepts and graph the function. If their model is correct,
comment on the viability of dealing in minivans.

Answer: The parabola opens downward. Vertex = (1, 301); y-intercept (0, 300); x-
intercept are (-16.35, 0) and (18.35, 0). If the model is correct, this is not a good
business, since it will lose money if more than 18 minivans are sold.

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17. The demand function for a publisher’s line of cookbooks is 𝑝 = 6 − 0.003𝑞, where
p is the price(in RM) per unit when q units are demanded (per day) by consumer.
Find the level of production that will maximize the manufacturer’s total revenue
and determine this revenue.

Answer: Maximum revenue is RM 3000, which occurs at a production level of 1000

units.

18. The demand function for an office supply company’s line of plastic rulers is p =
0.85 – 0.00045q, where p is the price (in RM) per unit when q units are demanded
(per day) by consumers. Find the level of production that will maximize the
manufacturer’s total revenue and determine this revenue.

Answer: Maximum revenue that the manufacturer can receive is RM 401.39 at

occur at a production level of 944 units.

19. The demand function for a one classic storybook is given by

𝑝 = −0.025𝑥 2 − 0.5𝑥 + 60
where 𝑝 is the unit price in Ringgit Malaysia and 𝑥 is the quantity demanded
each month, measured in units of a thousand.

i. Sketch the corresponding demand curve.

ii. From the curve, identify

a. above what price will there be no demand? Justify your answer.

Answer : at RM60, the demand is 0. Thus, there will be no demand

after RM60

b. the maximum quantity demanded per month?

Answer : 40 000 units

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20. Gemilangku, an apartment complex has 100 two bedroom units. The monthly
profit realized from renting out 𝑥 apartments is given by 𝑃(𝑥) = −10𝑥 2 +
1760𝑥 − 50 000 Ringgit Malaysia.

i. How many units should be rented out in order to maximize the monthly
rental profit?

Answer : 𝒙 = 𝟖𝟖

ii. What is the maximum monthly profit realizable?

Answer : 𝑷(𝟖𝟖) = 𝟐𝟕 𝟒𝟒𝟎 (RM)

𝑥
21. The manager of a CD store has found that if the price of a CD is 𝑝(𝑥) = 73 − ,
8
then 𝑥 CD will be sold. Total revenue function, 𝑅(𝑥) from the sale of CDs is
𝑥2
𝑅(𝑥) = 73𝑥 − 8
. Find the number of CDs that will produce maximum revenue.

Answer : 𝒙 = 𝟐𝟗𝟐

22. A marketing firm estimates that 𝑛 months after the introduction of a client’s new
product, 𝑓(𝑛) thousand households will use it, where
10
𝑓(𝑛) = 𝑛(12 − 𝑛), 0 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 12
9
Estimate the maximum number of households that will use the product.

Answer : Vertex : (6, 40000), max value (month) = 6, number of households :

40,000

23. The demand function for a manufacturer's product is 𝑝 = 600 − 3𝑞, where 𝑝 is
price per unit and 𝑞 is quantity.

i. How much is the price when 100 units are demanded?

Answer : 𝒑 = 𝟑𝟎𝟎

ii. Determine the total revenue function, 𝑅(𝑞).

Answer : 𝑹(𝒒) = 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝒒 − 𝟑𝒒𝟐

iii. Find the production quantity that will maximise the total revenue.

Answer : 𝒒 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎

iv. Determine the maximum total revenue

Answer : 𝑹(𝟏𝟎𝟎) = 𝟑𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎 (𝐑𝐌)

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24. Bob owns a hotdog stall. His profit is represented by the function
𝑃(𝑥) = −𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 41,
with 𝑃(𝑥) being profits and 𝑥 the number of hotdogs. What is the most (in
Ringgit Malaysia) he can earn?

Answer : RM77

25. The relationship between Proton's quarterly profit, (𝑥) , and the amount of
money, 𝑥 spent on advertising per year is described by a function 𝑃(𝑥) =
1
− 8 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 30 where both 𝑃(𝑥) and 𝑥 are measured in thousands of Ringgit
Malaysia.

i. Sketch the graph of 𝑃

Answer :
1. max function, as 𝒂 < 0 𝑃(𝑥)
2. vertex :
−𝒃 −𝟕
𝒙= = 𝟏 = 𝟐𝟖
𝟐𝒂 𝟐(− )
𝟖

𝟏 128
𝒑(𝟐𝟖) = − (𝟐𝟖)𝟐 + 𝟕(𝟐𝟖)
𝟖
+ 𝟑𝟎
= −𝟗𝟖 + 𝟏𝟗𝟔 + 𝟑𝟎 =
𝟏𝟐𝟖 30

3. 𝒙 − intercept ∶ 𝒑(𝒙) = 𝟎 -4 28 60 𝑥
𝟏
− 𝟖 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟑𝟎 = 𝟎
× −𝟖: 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝟔𝒙 − 𝟐𝟒𝟎 = 𝟎
(𝒙 − 𝟔𝟎)(𝒙 + 𝟒) = 𝟎
𝒙 = −𝟒, 𝟔𝟎

( −𝟒, 𝟎) (𝟔𝟎, 𝟎)

4. 𝒑(𝒙) − intercept, 𝒙 = 𝟎
𝟏
𝒑(𝒙) = − 𝟖 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟑𝟎
= 𝟑𝟎

(0, 30)

ii. Find the amount of money the company should spend on advertising per
year to maximise its profit

Answer : RM 28 000

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26. The fixed cost for product A is RM200. The variable cost per unit is given by
𝑉𝐶 = 0.2𝑞 − 20 where 𝑞 is the product's quantity. Find the units that will
minimize the cost.

Answer : 50 units

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