Quadratic Graphs

Front

What is a parabola?

Back

A parabola is a symmetrical, curved shape that represents the graph of a quadratic function. It can open upwards or downwards.

Front

What is the vertex of a parabola?

Back

The vertex is the highest or lowest point of the parabola, depending on its orientation.

Front

What is the axis of symmetry in a parabola?

Back

The axis of symmetry is a vertical line that divides the parabola into two mirror-image halves, passing through the vertex.

Front

How do you find the axis of symmetry from the vertex (h,k)?

Back

The axis of symmetry can be found using the equation x = h, where (h,k) is the vertex.

Front

What does it mean if a parabola opens upwards?

Back

If a parabola opens upwards, it has a minimum point at the vertex and the y-values increase as you move away from the vertex.

Front

What does it mean if a parabola opens downwards?

Back

If a parabola opens downwards, it has a maximum point at the vertex and the y-values decrease as you move away from the vertex.

Front

How can you determine if a vertex is a maximum or minimum?

Back

If the parabola opens upwards, the vertex is a minimum. If it opens downwards, the vertex is a maximum.

Front

What is the standard form of a quadratic equation?

Back

The standard form is y = ax^2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants.

Front

What is the significance of the 'a' value in a quadratic equation?

Back

The 'a' value determines the direction of the parabola (upward if a > 0, downward if a < 0) and its width.

Front

How do you find the y-intercept of a quadratic function?

Back

The y-intercept can be found by evaluating the function at x = 0, which gives the point (0, c) in the standard form.