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If the number in front of the x squared is negative, then the parabola will open upwards. The opposite occurs when the number is positive.
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To have a parabola with only one x-intercept, the vertex of the parabola must lie on the x-axis. This means the parabola opens either upwards or downwards, depending on the coefficient of the squared term in the equation. If the coefficient is positive, the parabola opens upwards, and if it is negative, the parabola opens downwards. By adjusting the coefficients in the equation of the parabola, you can position the vertex such that there is only one x-intercept.