06/04/23

Problem solving with quadratic

functions
LO: Find the equation of a quadratic functions in real
life situations.

www.mathssupport.org
 Quadratic functions are everywhere

www.mathssupport.org
of 48
 Quadratic functions are everywhere

www.mathssupport.org
of 48
 Quadratic functions are everywhere

www.mathssupport.org
of 48
 Quadratic functions are everywhere

www.mathssupport.org
of 48
 Quadratic functions are everywhere

www.mathssupport.org
of 48
 Finding the equation of the function from its graph
The height of a rocket t seconds after it is fired upwards is
given by H(t) = 100t – 5t2 metres, t ≥ 0.
(a) How long does the rocket take to reach its maximum height?
H(t) H(t) = 100t – 5t2
maximum height
Re-ordering the terms
H(t) = – 5t2 + 100t
We see that a = –5
So, the shape of the graph open
downwards
10 t
The maximum height is reached
when
t=
The maximum height is =
reached after 10 seconds
www.mathssupport.org t = 10
of 48
 Finding the equation of the function from its graph
The height of a rocket t seconds after it is fired upwards is
given by H(t) = 100t – 5t2 metres, t ≥ 0.
(b) Find the maximum height reached by the rocket.
H(t) H(10) = 100(10) – 5(10)2
maximum height
500 Expanding
H(10) = 1000 – 5(100)
Simplifying
H(10) = 1000 – 500
10 t H(10) = 500

The maximum height reached is 500 m

www.mathssupport.org
of 48
 Finding the equation of the function from its graph
The height of a rocket t seconds after it is fired upwards is
given by H(t) = 100t – 5t2 metres, t ≥ 0.
(c) How long does it take for the rocket to fall back to Earth?
H(t) The rocket will fall back to Earth
500
maximum height when H(t) = 0
0 = – 5t2 + 100t
Factorising
0 = – 5t (t – 20)
Solving for t
10 20 t
t=0 t – 20 = 0
t = 20

The rocket falls back after 20 minutes

www.mathssupport.org
of 48
 Consider the following bridge.
AB is the longest vertical support of the bridge which contains
a parabolic arch, its length is 40m
The vertical supports are 10m apart.

(0, 40).
A

(-100, 0). B (100, 0).

If axes are drawn on the diagram of the bridge with x-axis

the road and y-axis on AB, find the equation of the
parabolic arch.
Hence, determine the lengths of the other vertical supports.
www.mathssupport.org
0 of 48
 Finding the equation of the function from its graph
Using the information provided in the problem, we sketch the
graph.
y Since the x-intercepts are given, start
(0, 40)
with the equation in factorised form
-100 100

x f(x) = a(x – p) (x – q)
f(x) = a(x – 100) (x + 100)
We know that y = 40 when x = 0
x-intercepts (p, 0)
Substitute these values into the
= (-100, 0) equation to find a
(q, 0) 40 = a (0 + 100) (0 – 100)
= (100, 0) 40 = -10 000a
a = -0.004
y-intercept (0, 40)
f(x) = – 0.004(x – 100) (x + 100)
www.mathssupport.org f(x) = – 0.004x2 + 40
1 of 48
 Finding the equation of the function from its graph
The equation of the parabolic arch is f(x) = – 0.004x2 + 40
y Since the vertical supports are 10 m
(0, 40)
apart, we are going to calculate f(x)
-100 100

x For x = 10 or -10
f(x) = – 0.004(10)2 + 40 = 39.6
For x = 20 or -20 For x = 30 or -30
f(x) = – 0.004(20)2 + 40 = 38.4 f(x) = – 0.004(30)2 + 40 = 36.4
For x = 40 or -40 For x = 50 or -50
f(x) = – 0.004(40)2 + 40 = 33.6 f(x) = – 0.004(50)2 + 40 = 30
For x = 60 or -60 For x = 70 or -70
f(x) = – 0.004(60)2 + 40 = 25.6 f(x) = – 0.004(70)2 + 40 = 20.4
For x = 80 or -80 For x = 90 or -90
– 0.004(80)2 + 40 = 14.4
f(x) =www.mathssupport.org f(x) = – 0.004(90)2 + 40 = 7.6
2 of 48
 A vegetable gardener has 40 metres of fencing to enclose a
rectangular garden plot where one side is an existing brick wall.

If the width is x metres, find the length and the area of the
garden in terms of x
x If the gardener has 40 metres of
fencing the three sides add up to
40
y 40 = x + x + y
40 – 2x
40 – 2x = y
Calculate the area of the rectangle
A = x(40 - 2x)
x
A = – 2x2 + 40x

www.mathssupport.org
3 of 48
 A vegetable gardener has 40 metres of fencing to enclose a
rectangular garden plot where one side is an existing brick wall.

Find the width of the garden with an area of 192 m2

x A = – 2x2 + 40x
192 = – 2x2 + 40x

y 2x2 – 40x + 192 = 0

40 – 2x x=8 x = 12

If the width is 8 metres the

length is 24
x
If the width is 12 metres the
length is 16
www.mathssupport.org
4 of 48
 A vegetable gardener has 40 metres of fencing to enclose a
rectangular garden plot where one side is an existing brick wall.

Find the maximum area the garden can have

x The easiest way to find the

maximum area is to graph the
function y = – 2x2 + 40x where
y is the area and x is the width
y
40 – 2x Using your GDC you can
calculate the vertex
(10, 200)
Is the highest point on the
x graph, and tells you the
maximum area occurs when
A = – 2x2 + 40x the width of the garden is 10
www.mathssupport.org
metres, the area is 200 m2
5 of 48
 Thank you for using resources from

For more resources visit our website

https://www.mathssupport.org
If you have a special request, drop us an email
info@mathssupport.org
www.mathssupport.org
6 of 48