Parts of Parabola MC

Front

What is the vertex of a parabola?

Back

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

Front

What does it mean if a parabola opens upwards?

Back

If a parabola opens upwards, it has a minimum point at its vertex.

Front

What does it mean if a parabola opens downwards?

Back

If a parabola opens downwards, it has a maximum point at its vertex.

Front

How do you find the vertex of a parabola given in standard form y = ax^2 + bx + c?

Back

The vertex can be found using the formula x = -b/(2a) and then substituting x back into the equation to find y.

Front

What is the y-intercept of a parabola?

Back

The y-intercept is the point where the parabola crosses the y-axis, found by setting x = 0 in the equation.

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

What is the general shape of a parabola?

Back

A parabola is a U-shaped curve that can open upwards or downwards.

Front

What is the significance of the coefficient 'a' in the quadratic equation y = ax^2 + bx + c?

Back

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

Front

What is the formula for the vertex of a parabola in vertex form y = a(x-h)^2 + k?

Back

The vertex is the point (h, k).

Front

How can you determine if a quadratic function has a maximum or minimum value?

Back

If the coefficient 'a' is positive, the function has a minimum value; if 'a' is negative, it has a maximum value.