To find the "a" value in a parabola, which determines its width and direction (opening upwards or downwards), you can use the standard form of a quadratic equation: (y = ax^2 + bx + c). If you have a specific point on the parabola and the values of (b) and (c), you can substitute these into the equation along with the coordinates of the point to solve for (a). Alternatively, if the parabola is in vertex form, (y = a(x-h)^2 + k), you can derive (a) using the vertex and another point on the curve.
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Once you calculate the X coordinate using the axis of symmetry (X=-b/2a), you plug that value in for all of the X's in the equation of the parabola. You then solve the equation for the value of Y.
If the value of ( a ) in the equation ( y = ax^2 ) is positive, the parabola opens upwards. This means that the vertex of the parabola is the lowest point, and as you move away from the vertex in either direction along the x-axis, the value of ( y ) increases. Conversely, if ( a ) were negative, the parabola would open downwards.
They are the x-values (if any) of the points at which the y-value of the equation representing a parabola is 0. These are the points at which the parabola crosses the x-axis.
To find the value of a in a parabola opening up or down subtract the y-value of the parabola at the vertex from the y-value of the point on the parabola that is one unit to the right of the vertex.
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Select a set of x values and find the value of y or f(x) - depending on how the parabola is defined. These are the values that you need to graph.
If the value of the variable is negative then the parabola opens downwards and when the value of variable is positive the parabola opens upward.
A parabola has a minimum value when it looks like the letter U
When you look at the parabola if it opens downwards then the parabola has a maximum value (because it is the highest point on the graph) if it opens upward then the parabola has a minimum value (because it's the lowest possible point on the graph)
The vertex of this parabola is at -2 -3 When the y-value is -2 the x-value is -5. The coefficient of the squared term in the parabola's equation is -3.
The vertex of this parabola is at 5 5 When the x-value is 6 the y-value is -1. The coefficient of the squared expression in the parabola's equation is -6.
Once you calculate the X coordinate using the axis of symmetry (X=-b/2a), you plug that value in for all of the X's in the equation of the parabola. You then solve the equation for the value of Y.
To determine whether a parabola is fat or skinny, you can look at the coefficient of the quadratic term in its equation, typically in the form (y = ax^2 + bx + c). If the absolute value of (a) is greater than 1, the parabola is skinny; if it is between 0 and 1, the parabola is fat. Additionally, a larger absolute value of (a) results in a steeper curve, while a smaller absolute value leads to a wider spread.
If the value of ( a ) in the equation ( y = ax^2 ) is positive, the parabola opens upwards. This means that the vertex of the parabola is the lowest point, and as you move away from the vertex in either direction along the x-axis, the value of ( y ) increases. Conversely, if ( a ) were negative, the parabola would open downwards.