YOU ARE LEARNING:
Quadratic Graphs
Quadratic Graphs
Quadratic graphs are curved graphs where the highest power of x is 2. We use a table of values to figure out each point on the graph.
Quadratics are any graph where the highest power of x is x2. They have a distinctive U-shaped curve, which is symmetrical.
Let's try the equationy=x2+x
This means that for every x value....
... y is the square of x plus x
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/LuzfQqFTouA6BBCTsvuA.png)
What is y equal to when x=0 ?
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/LuzfQqFTouA6BBCTsvuA.png)
So when x=0 , y=0
We can plot this point on the graph at the coordinates (0,0) .
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/u3IYolxRwit1Vcja9CPQ.png)
What isy when x=2 ?
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/u3IYolxRwit1Vcja9CPQ.png)
So when x=2 , y=6
We can plot this point on the graph at the coordinates (2,6)
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/LXm0BskT8uLcyWRiyvyA.png)
What is y when x=−1 ?
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/LXm0BskT8uLcyWRiyvyA.png)
So when x=−1 , y=0
We can plot this point on the graph at the coordinates (−1,0) . Notice that the line crosses the x-axis twice!
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/ly4uyEQ9SzaWMlNS2KlD.png)
Let's calculate one more point. What is y when x=−3 ?
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/ly4uyEQ9SzaWMlNS2KlD.png)
Nice!
Now we have enough points to join up to find the line y=x2+x
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/iHGRHlQJN5HReKurF3wR.png)
The easiest way to draw a quadratic is by first completing a table of values, then plotting the points and joining them up with a smooth curve.
In the table above we can see the values for y=x2+x that we have already calculated.
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/XohcAjvsQw2qMPtBnE9T.png)
Some values of y are missing. What is y when x=−2 ?
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/XohcAjvsQw2qMPtBnE9T.png)
What will the y-coordinate be for when the x-coordinate is 1?
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/7PSsNYIlQdSkKVsrTzkK.png)
Finally, what will the point be along the curve at x=3 ? Give your answer in the form (x,y).
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/ifq8uY6RtieNIqXBJ1rQ.png)
So here is the completed table of values for y=x2+x.
You might notice that the values are symmetrical around x=−1,0. This is because the line is a symmetrical curve!
![](https://cdn.hejalbert.se/teen/blocks-images/en_GB/WLK0IiERoeEjV5KaIJie.png)