Quadratic functions form parabolas when graphed in the coordinate plane, so you can be sure fairly quickly when graphing a quadratic if you have the correct shape. As with lines in the plane, creating a table of input and output values then plotting points will reveal the shape. But unlike straight lines between points, the parabola is a smooth curve.  Later in this module, you’ll learn some other good methods for sketching a quick, accurate graph of a quadratic equation.

It is helpful to have an idea about what the shape of the graph of a quadratic function should be so you can be sure that you have chosen enough points to plot as a guide when sketching the graph. Let’s start with the most basic quadratic function, [latex]f(x)=x^{2}[/latex].
Graph [latex]f(x)=x^{2}[/latex].
Start with a table of values. Then think of each row of the table as an ordered pair.

Plot the points [latex](-2,4), (-1,1), (0,0), (1,1), (2,4)[/latex]

Since the points are not on a line, you cannot use a straight edge. Connect the points as best as you can using a smooth curve (not a series of straight lines). You may want to find and plot additional points (such as the ones in blue here). Placing arrows on the tips of the lines implies that they continue in that direction forever.

Notice that the shape is similar to the letter U. This is called a parabola. One-half of the parabola is a mirror image of the other half. The lowest point on this graph is called the vertex. The vertical line that goes through the vertex is called the line of reflection. In this case, that line is the y-axis.

The equations for quadratic functions have the form [latex]f(x)=ax^{2}+bx+c[/latex] where [latex]a\ne 0[/latex]. In the basic graph above, [latex]a=1[/latex], [latex]b=0[/latex], and [latex]c=0[/latex].

In the following video, we show an example of plotting a quadratic function using a table of values.

Changing a changes the width of the parabola and whether it opens up ([latex]a>0[/latex]) or down ([latex]a<0[/latex]). If a is positive, the vertex is the lowest point, if a is negative, the vertex is the highest point. In the following example, we show how changing the value of a will affect the graph of the function.

If there is no b term, changing c moves the parabola up or down so that the y intercept is ([latex]0, c[/latex]). In the next example, we show how changes to c affect the graph of the function.

Changing [latex]b[/latex] moves the line of reflection, which is the vertical line that passes through the vertex ( the high or low point) of the parabola. It may help to know how to calculate the vertex of a parabola to understand how changing the value of [latex]b[/latex] in a function will change its graph.

To find the vertex of the parabola, use the formula [latex]\displaystyle \left( \frac{-b}{2a},f\left( \frac{-b}{2a} \right) \right)[/latex].

For example, if the function being considered is [latex]f(x)=2x^2-3x+4[/latex], to find the vertex, first calculate [latex]\Large\frac{-b}{2a}[/latex]

[latex]a = 2[/latex], and [latex]b = -3[/latex], therefore [latex]\dfrac{-b}{2a}=\dfrac{-(-3)}{2(2)}=\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex].

This is the [latex]x[/latex] value of the vertex.

Now evaluate the function at [latex]x =\Large\frac{3}{4}[/latex] to get the corresponding y-value for the vertex.

[latex]f\left( \dfrac{-b}{2a} \right)=2\left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)^2-3\left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)+4=2\left(\dfrac{9}{16}\right)-\dfrac{9}{4}+4=\dfrac{18}{16}-\dfrac{9}{4}+4=\dfrac{9}{8}-\dfrac{9}{4}+4=\dfrac{9}{8}-\dfrac{18}{8}+\dfrac{32}{8}=\dfrac{23}{8}[/latex].

The vertex is at the point [latex]\left(\dfrac{3}{4},\dfrac{23}{8}\right)[/latex].  This means that the vertical line of reflection passes through this point as well.  It is not easy to tell how changing the values for [latex]b[/latex] will change the graph of a quadratic function, but if you find the vertex, you can tell how the graph will change.

In the next example, we show how changing b can change the graph of the quadratic function.

Note that the vertex can change if the value for c changes because the y-value of the vertex is calculated by substituting the x-value into the function. Here is a summary of how the changes to the values for a, b, and, c of a quadratic function can change it is graph.

Properties of a Parabola

For [latex]\displaystyle f(x)=a{{x}^{2}}+bx+c[/latex], where a, b, and c are real numbers,

• The parabola opens upward if [latex]a > 0[/latex] and downward if [latex]a < 0[/latex].
• a changes the width of the parabola. The parabola gets narrower if [latex]|a|> 1[/latex] and wider if [latex]|a|<1[/latex].
• The vertex depends on the values of a, b, and c. The vertex is [latex]\left(\dfrac{-b}{2a},f\left( \dfrac{-b}{2a}\right)\right)[/latex].

In the last example, we showed how you can use the properties of a parabola to help you make a graph without having to calculate an exhaustive table of values.

The following video shows another example of plotting a quadratic function using the vertex.

Summary

Creating a graph of a function is one way to understand the relationship between the inputs and outputs of that function. Creating a graph can be done by choosing values for x, finding the corresponding y values, and plotting them. However, it helps to understand the basic shape of the function. Knowing how changes to the basic function equation affect the graph is also helpful.

The shape of a quadratic function is a parabola. Parabolas have the equation [latex]f(x)=ax^{2}+bx+c[/latex], where a, b, and c are real numbers and [latex]a\ne0[/latex]. The value of a determines the width and the direction of the parabola, while the vertex depends on the values of a, b, and c. The vertex is [latex]\displaystyle \left( \dfrac{-b}{2a},f\left( \dfrac{-b}{2a} \right) \right)[/latex].