An MS Word version of this document...

This assignment addresses concepts and skills that are missing in Topics EIII and 11. It, and the discussion I'm posting on the Course Website to go with it, should help bridge the gap between the graphing in Topic 11, and our more detailed approach to Conic Sections in Topic 15.

In EIII.C, EIII.D, and 11, we find the vertex of by finding the point , by computing and directly.

In this Supplementary Exercise, we complete the square, so we are able to write in the form

,

and we simply read the vertex directly from the way we write . I think it's of value to do this both ways.

I don't want you to waste time typesetting this assignment in Word. Just do the work by hand on plain white paper, preferably unruled. You may scan and e-mail or fax your work to me, or mail it to me through regular U.S. Mail.

Graph each of the following by completing the square. Features I expect to see:

a. y–intercept

b. x–intercepts (if any)

c. vertex

d. general "shape" (a smooth parabola)

I also expect to see the work you did in completing the square for each.

Grading Rubric:

5 points each problem

y–intercept – 1 point

x–intercepts – 1 point

Complete the square successfully – 1 point

vertex – 1 point

general shape of the parabola – 1 point

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.