Quadratic Features

Front

What is a quadratic function?

Back

A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree 2, typically written in the form f(x) = ax² + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants and a ≠ 0.

Front

What does the graph of a quadratic function look like?

Back

The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola, which can open upwards or downwards depending on the sign of the coefficient 'a'.

Front

What is the vertex of a quadratic function?

Back

The vertex is the highest or lowest point on the graph of a quadratic function, depending on whether it opens upwards (minimum) or downwards (maximum).

Front

How do you find the vertex of a quadratic function in standard form?

Back

The vertex can be found using the formula x = -b/(2a) to find the x-coordinate, and then substituting this value back into the function to find the y-coordinate.

Front

What is the axis of symmetry in a quadratic function?

Back

The axis of symmetry is a vertical line that divides the parabola into two mirror-image halves, given by the equation x = -b/(2a).

Front

What is the standard form of a quadratic equation?

Back

The standard form of a quadratic equation is y = ax² + bx + c.

Front

What is the difference between maximum and minimum in quadratic functions?

Back

A maximum occurs at the vertex of a downward-opening parabola, while a minimum occurs at the vertex of an upward-opening parabola.

Front

What are the x-intercepts of a quadratic function?

Back

The x-intercepts are the points where the graph crosses the x-axis, found by solving the equation ax² + bx + c = 0.

Front

What is the quadratic formula?

Back

The quadratic formula is x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a), used to find the roots of a quadratic equation.

Front

What does the discriminant tell us about a quadratic equation?

Back

The discriminant (b² - 4ac) indicates the nature of the roots: if positive, there are two distinct real roots; if zero, one real root; if negative, no real roots.