To understand which way a quadratic graph opens, here are some simple things to remember:
What is Standard Form? A quadratic function usually looks like this:
( y = ax^2 + bx + c ).
Look at the Coefficient ( a ):
Fun Fact: Almost all quadratic graphs follow this rule based on whether ( a ) is positive or negative.
Remember, the vertex (the point at the top or bottom of the graph) is affected by the values of ( a ), ( b ), and ( c ). The line that splits the graph in half is called the axis of symmetry, which can be found using the formula:
( x = -\frac{b}{2a} ).
To understand which way a quadratic graph opens, here are some simple things to remember:
What is Standard Form? A quadratic function usually looks like this:
( y = ax^2 + bx + c ).
Look at the Coefficient ( a ):
Fun Fact: Almost all quadratic graphs follow this rule based on whether ( a ) is positive or negative.
Remember, the vertex (the point at the top or bottom of the graph) is affected by the values of ( a ), ( b ), and ( c ). The line that splits the graph in half is called the axis of symmetry, which can be found using the formula:
( x = -\frac{b}{2a} ).