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Math Lesson 15.1.2 - Plotting Quadratic Graphs
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Welcome to our Math lesson on Plotting Quadratic Graphs, this is the second lesson of our suite of math lessons covering the topic of Quadratic Graphs Part One, you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional Math learning resources below this lesson.
Plotting Quadratic Graphs
The most carefree way to plot a quadratic graph is to give some values to the independent variable x and find the corresponding y-values. All points found are inserted in the proper place in the coordinates system and after this, they are connected smoothly.
Since quadratic graphs are not linear, the number of points needed to plot the graph is much more than 2 (the number of minimum points needed to plot a linear graph). We choose 10 to 15 values for the x-coordinates and find the corresponding y-values. In this way, we find the same number of points that belong to the graph. For example, in the quadratic equation
we can fill the following table first:
Next, all points above are inserted in the coordinates system, as shown below.
Last, we connect all these points smoothly to obtain the form of the graph, which at this point looks a parabola already. In this way, we obtain the figure below:
The graph is very close to a parabola, so the graph is quite accurate. You can make it extend beyond the range in the table to give the idea of infinity if you wish.
Is this the best method to plot a quadratic graph? Obviously, not. There are a number of shortcomings present when using this method. First, we need many points to plot an accurate graph and this takes a lot of time to calculate. Second, and most importantly, you must have a lot of experience to guess the right x-coordinates that include both sides of the curve. Sometimes it happens that we choose all points in the same arm of the parabola. The result can be that we miss the most important point, that is, the vertex V, which is the highest or the lowest point of a quadratic graph. The vertex is very important, as it divides the graph into two symmetric halves.
You have reached the end of Math lesson 15.1.2 Plotting Quadratic Graphs. There are 6 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Quadratic Graphs Part One, you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.
More Quadratic Graphs Part One Lessons and Learning Resources
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Enjoy the "Plotting Quadratic Graphs" math lesson? People who liked the "Quadratic Graphs Part One lesson found the following resources useful:
- Plotting Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this plotting (see below)
- Types of Graphs Math tutorial: Quadratic Graphs Part One. Read the Quadratic Graphs Part One math tutorial and build your math knowledge of Types of Graphs
- Types of Graphs Revision Notes: Quadratic Graphs Part One. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the math tutorial for Quadratic Graphs Part One
- Types of Graphs Practice Questions: Quadratic Graphs Part One. Test and improve your knowledge of Quadratic Graphs Part One with example questins and answers
- Check your calculations for Types of Graphs questions with our excellent Types of Graphs calculators which contain full equations and calculations clearly displayed line by line. See the Types of Graphs Calculators by iCalculator™ below.
- Continuing learning types of graphs - read our next math tutorial: Quadratic Graphs Part Two
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