Quadratic Functions

 

I will examine the graphs of quadratics in standard form by keeping 2 values fixed and varying one value.

 

I will first keep a and b constant while varying c.

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The arrows indicate the color of the graph.

 

 

As you can see, it looks as if c causes a vertical translation. It looks like a positive c value raises the graph and a negative c value lowers it. I donŐt notice any other changes in the graph.

 

Now, letŐs see what happens when a and c remain constant and b is varied.

 

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From the graphs and equations it looks like b causes a horizontal shift in the parabola.  I also notice that all of the parabolas intersect the y-axis at 4, which is the value of c.

 

Finally, letŐs look at what happens to the graph of the parabola as we vary a and keep b and c as constants.

 

 

 

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This is very intersecting. The a value appears to control whether the parabola opens up or down. The turquoise, gray and yellow graphs of parabolas open down and the a value of all three are negative. There is also some relationship between a and the location of the vertex. I did not include when a=0. LetŐs see what this looks like.

 

 

 

 

This equation is a linear function and separates the negative and positive values by a line.