Quadratic Function Practice Problems & Solutions

Master quadratic functions with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to find vertices, intercepts, and graph parabolas with confidence.

📚Practice Your Quadratic Function Skills
  • Find the vertex of parabolas using the vertex formula
  • Determine if a parabola opens upward or downward
  • Calculate x and y intercepts of quadratic functions
  • Identify increasing and decreasing intervals from graphs
  • Solve quadratic equations using factoring and quadratic formula
  • Graph minimum and maximum parabolas accurately

Understanding Function

Complete explanation with examples

Function

What is a function?

A function is an equation that describes a specific relationship between XX and YY.
Every time we change XX, we get a different YY.

Linear function –

Looks like a straight line, XX is in the first degree.

Quadratic function –

Parabola, XX is in the square.

Detailed explanation

Practice Function

Test your knowledge with 28 quizzes

Given the function of the graph.

What are the areas of positivity and negativity of the function?

xy7

Examples with solutions for Function

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine the slope of the line shown on the graph, we perform a visual analysis:

  • We examine the orientation of the line from left to right.
  • The red line starts at a higher point on the left and descends to a lower point on the right.
  • This indicates a downward movement, which corresponds to a negative slope.

Therefore, by observing the direction of the line, we conclude that the slope of the function is negative. This positional evaluation confirms that the correct answer is negative slope.

Answer:

Negative slope

Video Solution
Exercise #2

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we need to determine the slope of the line depicted on the graph.

First, understand that the slope of a line on a coordinate plane indicates how steep the line is and the direction it is heading. Specifically:

  • A positive slope means the line rises as it goes from left to right.
  • A negative slope means the line falls as it goes from left to right.

Let's examine the graph given:

  • We see that the line starts at a higher point on the left and descends to a lower point on the right side.
  • As we move from the left side of the graph towards the right, the line goes downwards.

This downward trajectory clearly indicates a negative slope because the line is declining as we move horizontally left to right.

Therefore, the slope of this function is Negative.

The correct answer is, therefore, Negative slope.

Answer:

Negative slope

Video Solution
Exercise #3

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's analyze the given graph of the function to determine the slope's sign.

The slope of a line on a graph indicates the line's direction. A line with a positive slope rises as it moves from left to right, indicating that for every step taken to the right (along the x-axis), we move upward. Conversely, a line with a negative slope falls as it moves from left to right, meaning each step to the right results in moving downward.

Examining the graph provided, the red line starts higher on the left and goes downward towards the right visually. This indicates that the line is rising as it goes from left to right, which confirms it has a positive slope.

Therefore, the solution to the problem, regarding the slope of the line, is that it is a Positive slope.

Answer:

Positive slope

Video Solution
Exercise #4

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Visual Inspection – Examine the red line on the graph to determine direction.
  • Step 2: Determine Slope Direction – Ascertain if the line rises or falls as it moves from left to right.
  • Step 3: Compare with Possible Answers – Verify which choice aligns with the determined slope direction.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The graph shows a red line segment, oriented in a manner that moves from left (lower) to right (higher).
Step 2: As the red line moves from the left toward the right side of the graph, it rises, indicating an upward trend and suggesting a positive slope.
Step 3: Given that the line increases from left to right, the slope is positive.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is Positive slope.

Answer:

Positive slope

Video Solution
Exercise #5

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine the slope of the line segment shown in the graph, follow these steps:

  • Identify the line segment on the graph; it's shown as a red line from one point to another.
  • Examine the direction the line segment travels from the leftmost point to the rightmost point.
  • Visually analyze whether the line segment is rising or falling as it moves from left to right.

Here is the detailed analysis:
- The red line segment starts lower on the left side and ends higher on the right side.
- This suggests that as we move from left to right, the line is rising.
- In terms of slope, a line that rises as it moves from left to right has a positive slope.

Therefore, the slope of the line segment is positive.

Thus, the correct answer is Positive slope.

Answer:

Positive slope

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the vertex of a quadratic function?

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Use the vertex formula X = -b/(2a) to find the x-coordinate, then substitute this value back into the original equation to find the y-coordinate. You can also use two symmetrical points and find their midpoint.

What's the difference between minimum and maximum parabolas?

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A minimum parabola (smiling) opens upward when a > 0, with the vertex as the lowest point. A maximum parabola (sad) opens downward when a < 0, with the vertex as the highest point.

How do I find where a parabola crosses the x-axis?

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Set y = 0 in the quadratic equation and solve for x using factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula. The solutions are your x-intercepts.

What does the coefficient 'a' tell me about a quadratic function?

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The coefficient 'a' determines the parabola's direction and width. If a > 0, it opens upward (minimum). If a < 0, it opens downward (maximum). Larger |a| values make narrower parabolas.

How do I determine increasing and decreasing intervals?

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For minimum parabolas: decreasing for x < vertex x-value, increasing for x > vertex x-value. For maximum parabolas: increasing for x < vertex x-value, decreasing for x > vertex x-value.

What's the standard form of a quadratic function?

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The standard form is y = ax² + bx + c, where 'a' cannot equal zero. This form makes it easy to identify the y-intercept (c) and calculate the vertex using formulas.

How do I find the y-intercept of a quadratic function?

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Substitute x = 0 into the equation. The y-intercept is simply the constant term 'c' in the standard form y = ax² + bx + c.

Why is understanding parabolas important in real life?

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Parabolas model many real-world situations like projectile motion, satellite dishes, bridge arches, and profit optimization in business. Understanding their properties helps solve practical problems.

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