CHAPTER 5 : FUNCTION AND GRAPHS (QUADRATIC FUNCTION)

PROBLEMS
A strategy game can be modeled using quadratic equation y=-00.25x2 + x
+5.5 ,where x is a distance travelled (in metre) by angry bird and y is the
height (also in metre) . How long was the shot ?
The shot ends when it hits the ground. The height y at that point is zero ,so
the quadratic equation is set to zero.
There are 3 ways to solve the problems :
WAYS
Factor

Complete the square

Quadratic formula

FORMULA
1) Difference of two squares :
x2-y2 =(x + y)(x y)
2) Difference of two cubes :
X3 y3 =(x y)(x2 +xy +y2)
3) Sum of two cubes :
X3 + y3 = (x + y)(x2 xy +y2)
ax2 + bx =(x + b/2)2 (b/2)2
x=

b b24 ac
2a

This equation is difficult to factor or complete the square. So well solve by

apply the quadratic formula :

SOLUTIONS

= -12 (1) 2 -4(-0.25 )(5.5)

2 (-0.25)
= -1 1- (-3.5)
-0.5
= -1 6.5
-0.5
x= -1 + 6.5
(-0.5)
= -3.099m
x= -1 - 6.5
(-0.5)
= 7.099m

x= -3.099m or 7.099m

Do the roots make sense? The parabola described by the quadratic function
has two x-intercepts. But the shot only traveled along part of that curve.
One solution, -3.099m, cannot be the distance traveled because it is a negative number.
The other solution, 7.099m, must give the distance of the throw .