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Example 1

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Example 1
The graph shows the parabolic path of a performer who is shot out of a
cannon, where y is the height (in feet) and x is the horizontal distance
traveled (in feet). The performer lands in a net 90 feet from the cannon.
What is the height of the net?
SOLUTION
From the graph, you can see that the vertex (h, k) is (50, 35) and the
parabola passes through the point (0, 15). Use the vertex and the point
to solve for a in vertex form. Then write an equation of the parabola.
y a(x h)2 k Vertex form

15 a(0 50)2 35 Substitute for h, k, x, and y.

20 2500a Simplify.

0.008 a Divide each side by 2500.

Because a 0.008, h 50, and k 35, the path can be modeled by the
equation y 0.008(x 50)2 35, where 0 x 90.
Example 1

Find the height when x = 90.

y 0.008(x 50)2 35

y 0.008(90 50)2 35 Substitute 90 for x.

0.008(1600) 35 Simplify.
22.2 Simplify.

So, the height of the net is about 22

feet.
The world record for the farthest
distance traveled by a human
cannonball is almost 200 feet,
achieved by David Smith Jr.
The NEW vertex (h, k) is (50, 37.5) and the parabola passes through the point (0, 15). Use the vertex
and the point to solve for a in vertex form. Then write an equation of the parabola.

y a(x h)2 k
Because a 0.008, h 50, and k 37.5, the
15 a(0 50) 37.5
2
path can be modeled by the equation
y 0.009(x 50)2 37.5
22.5 2500a

0.009 a

Find the height when x = 90.

y 0.009(x 50)2 37.5 So, the height of the net is about 23

feet.
y 0.009(90 50)2 37.5
0.009(1600) 37.5
23.1
The vertex (h, k) is (-2, 5) and the parabola passes through the point (1, -7). Use the vertex and the
point to solve for a in vertex form. Then write an equation of the parabola.

y a(x h)2 k
Because a 1.33, h -2, and k 5, the path
-7 a(1 -2) 5
2
can be modeled by the equation
12 a(1+2) 2
y 1.33(x + 2)2 5
12 a(9)

1.33 a
The vertex (h, k) is (-10, -3) and the parabola passes through the point (0, 8). Use the vertex and the
point to solve for a in vertex form. Then write an equation of the parabola.

y a(x h)2 k
Because a 11/100, h -10, and k -3, the
8 a(0 -10) -3
2
path can be modeled by the equation
8 a(10) 2 -3
y 0.11(x + 10)2 - 3
11 a(100)

11/100 a
 Example 2

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Example 2 A meteorologist creates a parabola to predict the temperature tomorrow,
where x is the number of hours after midnight and y is the temperature
(in degrees Celsius).
a. Write a function f that models the temperature over time. What is the
coldest temperature?
b. What is the average rate of change in temperature over the interval in
which the temperature is decreasing? increasing? Compare the
average rates of change.
SOLUTION

a. The x-intercepts are 4 and 24 and the parabola passes through (0,
9.6). Use the x-intercepts and the point to solve for a in intercept form.
y a(x p)(x q) Intercept form
9.6 a(0 4)(0 24) Substitute for , , , and .
9.6 96a Simplify.
0.1 a Divide each side by 96.
Example 2

Because a 0.1, p 4, and q 24, the temperature over time can be

modeled by f(x) 0.1(x 4)(x 24), where 0 x 24. The coldest
temperature is the minimum value. So, find f(x) when x 14.

f(14) 0.1(14 4)(14 24) Substitute 14 for x.

10 Simplify.
So, the coldest temperature is 10C at 14 hours after midnight, or 2
P.M.
Example 2

The average rate of b. The parabola opens up and the axis of symmetry is x 14. So, the
change of a function f function is decreasing over the interval 0 x 14 and increasing over the
from x1 to x2 is the slope of the interval 14 x 24.
line connecting
(x1, f(x1)) and (x2, f(x2)):
.
Average rate of change Average rate of change
over 0 x 14: over 14 x 24:

1.4 1

Because 1.4 1 , the average rate at which the temperature

decreases from midnight to 2 P.M. is greater than the average rate
at which it increases from 2 P.M. to midnight.
SOLUTION
a. The x-intercepts are 4 and 24 and the parabola passes through (0,
4.8). Use the x-intercepts and the point to solve for a in intercept form.
y a(x p)(x q) Intercept form
4.8 a(0 4)(0 24) Substitute for , , , and .
4.8 96a Simplify.
0.05 a Divide each side by 96.
b. The parabola opens up and the axis of symmetry is x 14. So, the function is decreasing over the
interval 0 x 14 and increasing over the interval 14 x 24.

Average rate of change Average rate of change Because ½ the average rate at
over 0 x 14: over 14 x 24: which the temperature decreases
from midnight to 2 P.M. is greater
0.7 ½ than the average rate at which it
increases from 2 P.M. to midnight.
 Average rate of change Average rate of change
over 4 x 14: over 14 x 24:

1 1

Because 1 the average rates at which the temperature decreases from 4 a.m. to 2 P.M. is
the same as the average rate at which it increases from 2 P.M. to midnight.
SOLUTION
The x-intercepts are -2 and 4 and the parabola passes through (2, 5). Use
the x-intercepts and the point to solve for a in intercept form.
y a(x p)(x q) Intercept form
5 a(2 2)(2 4) Substitute for , , , and .
5 -8a Simplify.
-0.625 a Divide each side by -8.

Because a -0.625, p -2, and q 4, the equation can be modeled by

f(x) -0.625(x + 2)(x 4).
 Example 3

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 Example 3
NASA can create a weightless environment by flying a plane in parabolic
Height, paths. The table shows the heights h(t) (in feet) of a plane t seconds after
Time, t
h(t) starting the flight path. After about 20.8 seconds, passengers begin to
10 26,900 experience a weightless environment. Write and evaluate a function to
approximate the height at which this occurs.
15 29,025
SOLUTION
20 30,600
25 31,625 Step 1 The input values are equally spaced. So, analyze the differences in the
outputs to determine what type of function you can use to model the data.
30 32,100
35 32,025 h(10) h(15) h(20) h(25) h(30) h(35) h(40)
26,900 29,025 30,600 31,625 32,100 32,025 31,400
40 31,400
first differences 2125 1575 1025 475 75 625

second differences 550 550 550 550 550

Because the second differences are constant, you can model the data
with a quadratic function.
 Example 3 Step 2 Write a quadratic function of the form h(t) at2 bt c that models the data. Use
any three points (t, h(t)) from the table to write a system of equations.

Use (10, 26,900): 100a 10b c 26,900 Equation 1

Use (20, 30,600): 400a 20b c 30,600 Equation 2
Use (30, 32,100): 900a 30b c 32,100 Equation 3

Subtract Equation 1 Use the elimination method to solve the system.

from Equation 2. 300a 10b 3700 New Equation 1
Subtract Equation 1
800a 20b 5200 New Equation 2
from Equation 3. 200a 2200 Subtract 2 times new Equation
1
a 11 Solve for Equation
from new a. 2.
b 700 Substitute into new Equation 1 to find b.
c 21,000 Substitute into Equation 1 to find c.
The data can be modeled by the function h(t) 11t2 700t 21,000.
Step 3 Evaluate the function when t 20.8.
h(20.8) 11(20.8)2 700(20.8) 21,000 30,800.96
Passengers begin to experience a weightless environment at about 30,800
SOLUTION
The set of second differences are all the same value which means the data will create a quadratic
model when plotted.
SOLUTION
Use each point to fill in the standard form of a quadratic equation.

(x, y) ax2 + bx + c = y

(-1, 4) 1a + (-1)b + c = 4 a – b + c = 4 a–b+1=4 a–b=3

(0, 1) 0a + 0b + c = 1 c=1
(2, 7) 4a + 2b + c = 7 4a + 2b + c = 7 4a + 2b + 1 = 7 4a + 2b = 6
Use substitution to find a, b, and c.

a–b=3 2a – 2b = 6
4a + 2b = 6 4a + 2b = 6
6a = 12 ax2 + bx + c = y
a=2 a–b=3
2–b=3
b = -1
2x2 – 1x + 1 = y
 Example 4

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SOLUTION
Use https://www.desmos.com/calculator/qsdscncgi6 to come up with the equation based on the data.

a = -100 b = 2000 c = -1000

ax2 + bx + c = y
-100x2 + 2000x - 1000 = y
 Example 4 The table shows fuel efficiencies of a vehicle at different speeds. Write a
function that models the data. Use the model to approximate the best gas
Miles per Miles per mileage.
hour, x gallon, y
20 14.5 SOLUTION
24 17.5
Because the x-values are not equally spaced, you cannot analyze the
30 21.2 differences in the outputs. Use technology to find a function that models
36 23.7 the data.
40 25.2
Step 1 Enter the data from the table Step 2 Find the quadratic equation.
45 25.8 and create a scatter plot. The The values in the equation can
50 25.8 data show a quadratic be rounded to obtain
relationship. y 0.014x2 1.37x 7.1.
56 25.1
60 24.0
70 19.5

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/qsdscncgi6
Example 4

Step 3 Graph the regression equation with the scatter plot.

In this context, the best gas mileage is the
maximum mileage per gallon. Using technology,
you can see that the maximum mileage per gallon
is about 26.4 miles per gallon when driving about
48.9 miles per hour.

So, the best gas mileage is about 26.4 miles per gallon.
 Explore it! With a partner produce
answers to each part.

Some things to think about to help you

come up with answers.
• Does the information tell you something about the
vertex?
• Or an x-intercept?
• Or a point on the graph?
Time for a Quick Review of what we just learned.
Check Schoology for
assignments.

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