Introduction
Welcome to the world of quadratic functions!!
Some important relationships are not linear or exponential (as we have been working with in the past), such as those based on gravity, area and volume, even equations that predict the best selling price for a product! Skydivers, painters, astronauts, and retailers all use a class of functions called quadratics from the Latin word meaning "to make a square." You will explore the basic vocabulary and parameters of quadratic functions as an introduction into our chapter on quadratic equations.
Task
Task
By the end of the webquest you should be able to:
*Define the vocabulary terms that will be used through the chapter
*Write a timeline for the history of the parabola
*Identify uses of the parabola in the real-world and everyday life
*Given the standard form of a quadratic function, f(x) = ax2+bx+c, describe the effects of a, b, and c on the equation and the graph
*Determine the key characteristics of quadratic functions and their graphs (vertex, intercepts, and axis of symmetry)