Sketch quadratic curve

A question is this type if and only if it asks to sketch a quadratic curve, showing key features like intercepts, vertex, or axis of symmetry.

22 questions · Moderate -0.8

1.02n Sketch curves: simple equations including polynomials
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Edexcel P1 2022 January Q2
6 marks Moderate -0.8
2. $$f ( x ) = 11 - 4 x - 2 x ^ { 2 }$$
  1. Express \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form $$a + b ( x + c ) ^ { 2 }$$ where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
  2. Sketch the graph of the curve \(C\) with equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\), showing clearly the coordinates of the point where the curve crosses the \(y\)-axis.
  3. Write down the equation of the line of symmetry of \(C\).
Edexcel C1 2013 January Q10
7 marks Moderate -0.8
10. $$4 x ^ { 2 } + 8 x + 3 \equiv a ( x + b ) ^ { 2 } + c$$
  1. Find the values of the constants \(a , b\) and \(c\).
  2. On the axes on page 27, sketch the curve with equation \(y = 4 x ^ { 2 } + 8 x + 3\), showing clearly the coordinates of any points where the curve crosses the coordinate axes. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{099016ad-e742-4679-9669-47dcd1d9cc5f-15_1283_1284_319_322}
Edexcel C1 2012 June Q8
8 marks Moderate -0.8
8. $$4 x - 5 - x ^ { 2 } = q - ( x + p ) ^ { 2 }$$ where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers.
  1. Find the value of \(p\) and the value of \(q\).
  2. Calculate the discriminant of \(4 x - 5 - x ^ { 2 }\)
  3. On the axes on page 17, sketch the curve with equation \(y = 4 x - 5 - x ^ { 2 }\) showing clearly the coordinates of any points where the curve crosses the coordinate axes. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{089c3b5b-22ab-4fa2-8383-4f30cefa792a-11_1143_1143_260_388}
OCR MEI C1 2007 June Q12
12 marks Moderate -0.8
12
  1. Write \(4 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x + 27\) in the form \(a ( x - b ) ^ { 2 } + c\).
  2. State the coordinates of the minimum point on the curve \(y = 4 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x + 27\).
  3. Solve the equation \(4 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x + 27 = 0\).
  4. Sketch the graph of the curve \(y = 4 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x + 27\).
OCR C1 2012 January Q9
12 marks Moderate -0.3
9
  1. Sketch the curve \(y = 12 - x - x ^ { 2 }\), giving the coordinates of all intercepts with the axes.
  2. Solve the inequality \(12 - x - x ^ { 2 } > 0\).
  3. Find the coordinates of the points of intersection of the curve \(y = 12 - x - x ^ { 2 }\) and the line \(3 x + y = 4\).
OCR C1 2009 June Q10
11 marks Moderate -0.8
10
  1. Solve the equation \(9 x ^ { 2 } + 18 x - 7 = 0\).
  2. Find the coordinates of the stationary point on the curve \(y = 9 x ^ { 2 } + 18 x - 7\).
  3. Sketch the curve \(y = 9 x ^ { 2 } + 18 x - 7\), giving the coordinates of all intercepts with the axes.
  4. For what values of \(x\) does \(9 x ^ { 2 } + 18 x - 7\) increase as \(x\) increases?
OCR MEI C1 2016 June Q7
5 marks Easy -1.3
7
  1. Solve the equation \(( x - 2 ) ^ { 2 } = 9\).
  2. Sketch the curve \(y = ( x - 2 ) ^ { 2 } - 9\), showing the coordinates of its intersections with the axes and its turning point.
AQA C1 2012 January Q2
10 marks Moderate -0.8
2
  1. Factorise \(x ^ { 2 } - 4 x - 12\).
  2. Sketch the graph with equation \(y = x ^ { 2 } - 4 x - 12\), stating the values where the curve crosses the coordinate axes.
    1. Express \(x ^ { 2 } - 4 x - 12\) in the form \(( x - p ) ^ { 2 } - q\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are positive integers.
    2. Hence find the minimum value of \(x ^ { 2 } - 4 x - 12\).
  3. The curve with equation \(y = x ^ { 2 } - 4 x - 12\) is translated by the vector \(\left[ \begin{array} { r } - 3 \\ 2 \end{array} \right]\). Find an equation of the new curve. You need not simplify your answer.
AQA C1 2014 June Q4
7 marks Moderate -0.8
4
    1. Express \(16 - 6 x - x ^ { 2 }\) in the form \(p - ( x + q ) ^ { 2 }\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers.
    2. Hence write down the maximum value of \(16 - 6 x - x ^ { 2 }\).
    1. Factorise \(16 - 6 x - x ^ { 2 }\).
    2. Sketch the curve with equation \(y = 16 - 6 x - x ^ { 2 }\), stating the values of \(x\) where the curve crosses the \(x\)-axis and the value of the \(y\)-intercept.
      [0pt] [3 marks]
Edexcel C1 Q6
5 marks Moderate -0.8
6. Given that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = 15 - 7 x - 2 x ^ { 2 }\),
  1. find the coordinates of all points at which the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\) crosses the coordinate axes.
  2. Sketch the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\).
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2013 June Q3
7 marks Easy -1.2
3
  1. Express \(x ^ { 2 } + 2 x - 3\) in the form \(( x + a ) ^ { 2 } + b\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers to be found.
  2. Sketch the graph of \(y = x ^ { 2 } + 2 x - 3\) giving the coordinates of the vertex and of any intersections with the coordinate axes.
Edexcel C1 Q10
12 marks Moderate -0.3
Given that $$f(x) = x^2 - 6x + 18, \quad x \geq 0,$$
  1. express \(f(x)\) in the form \((x - a)^2 + b\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers. [3]
The curve \(C\) with equation \(y = f(x)\), \(x \geq 0\), meets the \(y\)-axis at \(P\) and has a minimum point at \(Q\).
  1. Sketch the graph of \(C\), showing the coordinates of \(P\) and \(Q\). [4]
The line \(y = 41\) meets \(C\) at the point \(R\).
  1. Find the \(x\)-coordinate of \(R\), giving your answer in the form \(p + q\sqrt{2}\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers. [5]
OCR MEI C1 Q7
5 marks Easy -1.2
Express \(x^2 - 6x\) in the form \((x - a)^2 - b\). Sketch the graph of \(y = x^2 - 6x\), giving the coordinates of its minimum point and the intersections with the axes. [5]
OCR MEI C1 2006 January Q11
13 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Write \(x^2 - 7x + 6\) in the form \((x - a)^2 + b\). [3]
  2. State the coordinates of the minimum point on the graph of \(y = x^2 - 7x + 6\). [2]
  3. Find the coordinates of the points where the graph of \(y = x^2 - 7x + 6\) crosses the axes and sketch the graph. [5]
  4. Show that the graphs of \(y = x^2 - 7x + 6\) and \(y = x^2 - 3x + 4\) intersect only once. Find the \(x\)-coordinate of the point of intersection. [3]
OCR C1 Q3
6 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Express \(x^2 - 10x + 27\) in the form \((x + p)^2 + q\). [3]
  2. Sketch the curve with equation \(y = x^2 - 10x + 27\), showing on your sketch
    1. the coordinates of the vertex of the curve,
    2. the coordinates of any points where the curve meets the coordinate axes. [3]
OCR C1 Q8
12 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. Express \(3x^2 - 12x + 11\) in the form \(a(x + b)^2 + c\). [4]
  2. Sketch the curve with equation \(y = 3x^2 - 12x + 11\), showing the coordinates of the minimum point of the curve. [3]
Given that the curve \(y = 3x^2 - 12x + 11\) crosses the \(x\)-axis at the points \(A\) and \(B\), \begin{enumerate}[label=(\roman*)] \setcounter{enumi}{2} \item find the length \(AB\) in the form \(k\sqrt{3}\). [5]
OCR MEI C1 Q6
12 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Write \(4x^2 - 24x + 27\) in the form \(a(x - b)^2 + c\). [4]
  2. State the coordinates of the minimum point on the curve \(y = 4x^2 - 24x + 27\). [2]
  3. Solve the equation \(4x^2 - 24x + 27 = 0\). [3]
  4. Sketch the graph of the curve \(y = 4x^2 - 24x + 27\). [3]
OCR MEI C1 Q5
13 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Write \(x^2 - 7x + 6\) in the form \((x - a)^2 + b\). [3]
  2. State the coordinates of the minimum point on the graph of \(y = x^2 - 7x + 6\). [2]
  3. Find the coordinates of the points where the graph of \(y = x^2 - 7x + 6\) crosses the axes and sketch the graph. [5]
  4. Show that the graphs of \(y = x^2 - 7x + 6\) and \(y = x^2 - 3x + 4\) intersect only once. Find the \(x\)-coordinate of the point of intersection. [3]
AQA Paper 2 Specimen Q6
5 marks Moderate -0.8
A curve \(C\) has equation \(y = x^2 - 4x + k\), where \(k\) is a constant. It crosses the \(x\)-axis at the points \((2 + \sqrt{5}, 0)\) and \((2 - \sqrt{5}, 0)\)
  1. Find the value of \(k\). [2 marks]
  2. Sketch the curve \(C\), labelling the exact values of all intersections with the axes. [3 marks]
SPS SPS SM 2022 October Q2
6 marks Easy -1.2
  1. Complete the square for \(1 - 4x - x^2\) [3]
  2. Sketch the curve \(y = 1 - 4x - x^2\), including the coordinates of any maximum or minimum points and the y intercept only. [3]
SPS SPS FM 2026 November Q7
10 marks Moderate -0.8
\(f(x) = 2x^2 + 4x + 9 \quad x \in \mathbb{R}\)
  1. Write \(f(x)\) in the form \(a(x + b)^2 + c\), where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found. [3]
  2. Sketch the curve with equation \(y = f(x)\) showing any points of intersection with the coordinate axes and the coordinates of any turning point. [3]
    1. Describe fully the transformation that maps the curve with equation \(y = f(x)\) onto the curve with equation \(y = g(x)\) where $$g(x) = 2(x - 2)^2 + 4x - 3 \quad x \in \mathbb{R}$$
    2. Find the range of the function $$h(x) = \frac{21}{2x^2 + 4x + 9} \quad x \in \mathbb{R}$$ [4]
SPS SPS SM 2025 November Q2
12 marks Easy -1.3
  1. Write \(4x^2 - 24x + 27\) in the form \(a(x - b)^2 + c\). [4]
  2. State the coordinates of the minimum point on the curve \(y = 4x^2 - 24x + 27\). [2]
  3. Solve the equation \(4x^2 - 24x + 27 = 0\). [3]
  4. Sketch the graph of the curve \(y = 4x^2 - 24x + 27\). [3]