Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
chapter 9
Quadratic Equations
In this chapter, you explore the quadratic equation. This equation is a polynomial
of the second degree and generates a parabola. The standard form of the quadratic
equation reads ax 2
þ bx þ c . In the same way that you could change the shape
and position of sets of lines used to graph absolute values, you can also change the
shape and position of the parabolas you create using quadratic equations. You can
make the parabola narrower or wider by changing the coefficient of the x variable.
You translate the parabola along the x axis by interpreting x as x h ,where h
establishes the line of symmetry for the parabola. You can also shift the parabola
up and down the y axis by using a value that corresponds to c in the standard
formula. To solve for the x -intercepts of a quadratic equation, you can start by
completing the square. You can also use the quadratic formula. Such topics
provide many interesting ways to interpret events mathematically. Among the
topics that you examine as you explore how this is so are the following:
n How to define a quadratic equation in its standard form
n Reviewing the notions of constant and changing slopes
n How to make a parabola narrower or wider
n Translating a parabola along the x axis
n Making a parabola so that it opens downward
n Completing squares and the quadratic formula
165
Search WWH ::




Custom Search