Finding the vertex of a quadratic function on a graph can be tricky.

Many students have a hard time figuring out this important point. This is especially true because parabolas can open either up or down.

Plus, the vertex can get lost among other points on the graph.

1. Challenges:

• It can be confusing to find the highest or lowest point, especially if the curve isn’t clear.

• Sometimes, the vertex might be outside the part of the graph you can see, which makes it even harder to find.

2. Vertex Formula:

If the function looks like this: $y = ax^2 + bx + c$ you can find the x-coordinate of the vertex with this formula: $x = -\frac{b}{2a}$

Once you have the x-value, you can put it back into the equation to find the y-coordinate. This will give you the exact spot of the vertex.

Even though it can be difficult, learning these methods and practicing drawing graphs can really help you get better at finding the vertex.