Report for Formative Math Investigation - Linear factored form of a quadratic

Introduction: This investigation is on the graphs formed from the linear factored form of a quadratic equation. Our aim is to find patterns and be able to understand why they occur. We are going to plot the linear factored form of a quadratic equations using geogebra and change them easily to be able to test our predictions. Results: When we put in different linear forms of a quadratic equation these were the results that we obtained: y=(x !" (x #" y=(x $" (x %"

y=(x &"(x '"

y=(x !"(x($"

Predictions and Pattern Spotting: ) came up with a rule for the pattern that ) saw. ) saw that whatever the two numbers were that followed the x in the brac*ets+ that number at it,s opposite sign was where the graph intersected with the x axis. ) gave them the names ,b, and ,c, thus ma*ing the following equation: y= (x b" (x c" )t is always b and c so that it ma*es it the opposite sign but that number which is where the graph intersects with the x line. )f they are negative then it,s y=(x ( b" (x ( c" and two minuses is a positive so if ,b, and ,c, are negative then the x intercepts are positive. )f b and c are positive then the x intercepts will be negative because a positive and a negative is a negative. )n the form y=(x b" (x c" ) came up with the following suggested rule: -uggested rule: .arameters ,b, and ,c, give the x intercepts. To test this rule ) shall ma*e predictions and then graph the function and see if my prediction is correct. !" .rediction: )n the function y=(x /" (x(#" the x intercepts will be at points / and #

0rom the screenshot above we can clearly see that the graph,s x intercepts are the points / and # $" 1y next prediction: )n the function y=(x(2" (x(%" the x intercepts will be at point 2 and %

This graph also shows that my prediction was correct because the graph does indeed intersect the x axis at the points 2 and % Limitations of the Rule: This rule seems to wor* very well with few limitations because it wor*s when ,b, and ,c, are both positive (see graphs above" when they are both negative (see graphs above" and when one is positive and one is negative (see graphs above". 3lso it wor*s when they are decimals and fractions+ not only integers. The graph below was made by the function y=(x 4.%"(x /5$"

and it does indeed cross at 4.% (the opposite sign of 4.%" and at #.% (the opposite sign of /5$" The rule also wor*s for irrational numbers such as 6 ) put put in the function y=(x 6"(x !" and the graph proved the rule even with an irrational number

) am not sure if this rule would wor* with very large numbers but since it has with all of the others then ) would assume that it does wor*. When ) tried entering ,b, as !444 and ,c, as /44 it still wor*ed but )

cannot prove that it wor*s all the way to infinity. Justification/proof of the Rule: We can 7ustify this rule by using the null factor law. )f we ta*e the equation y=(x !" (x #" then we can easily prove the rule by transforming it. (x !" (x #"=4 The null factor law means that either of the brac*ets have to equal 8ero. This means that for the first brac*et to equal 8ero then x has to be ! 0or the second brac*et to equal 8ero then x has to be # This shows how the rule wor*s. The rule wor*s because x always has to be the same number as ,b, and ,c, but the opposite sign so that they cancel out. -o the general rule would be: y=(x b" (x c" (x b" (x c"=4 for (x b" to =4 then x= (b for (x c" to =4 then x= (c Which is why the points on the x axis are (b and (c which is the opposite of the b and c that are in the equation. ) thin* that these results are very important and quite useful because right away we are able to *now what the x intercepts are going to be without having to graph them. We can simply loo* at the linear factored form of the quadratic equation and *now exactly where the graph intercepts the x axis.