Characteristics of Parabolas

Front

What is a parabola?

Back

A parabola is a U-shaped curve that is defined as the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and a fixed line (the directrix).

Front

What is the vertex of a parabola?

Back

The vertex is the highest or lowest point of the parabola, depending on whether it opens upwards or downwards.

Front

How do you determine if a parabola opens upwards or downwards?

Back

Front

What is the axis of symmetry in a parabola?

Back

Front

What is the standard form of a quadratic equation?

Back

Front

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

Back

The 'a' value determines the width and direction of the parabola. A larger absolute value of 'a' makes the parabola narrower, while a smaller absolute value makes it wider.

Front

What is the maximum or minimum value of a parabola?

Back

The maximum or minimum value of a parabola occurs at the vertex. If the parabola opens upwards, the vertex is a minimum; if it opens downwards, the vertex is a maximum.

Front

How do you find the y-intercept of a parabola?

Back

Front

What is the formula for finding the vertex of a parabola given in standard form?

Back

Front

What is the domain of a parabola?

Back