PARABOLA EQUATION

A quadratic equation always represents a parabola. The equation of parabola can be written as: Where, a, b and c are constants and (x, y) is an arbitrary point lying on the parabola. If a equals zero, then equation will be no more a quadratic equation. Hence it will not represent a parabola. To form a parabola according to ancient Greek definitions, you would start with a line and a point off to one side. The line is called the "directrix"; the point is called the "focus". The parabola is the curve formed from all the points (x, y) that are equidistant from the directrix and the focus. The line perpendicular to the directrix and passing through the focus (that is, the line that splits the parabola up the middle) is called the " axis of symmetry". The point on this axis which is exactly midway between the focus and the directrix is the "vertex"; the vertex is the point where the parabola changes direction. The name "parabola" is derived from a New Latin term that means something similar to "compare" or "balance", and refers to the fact that the distance from the parabola to the focus is always equal to (that is, is always in balance with) the distance from the parabola to the directrix. In practical terms, you'll probably only need to know that the vertex is exactly midway between the directrix and the focus.

"regular", or vertical, parabola (in blue), with the focus (in green) "inside" the parabola, the directrix (in purple) below the graph, the axis of symmetry (in red) passing through the focus and perpendicular to the directrix, and the vertex (in orange) on the graph

"sideways", or horizontal, parabola (in blue), with the focus (in green) "inside" the parabola, the directrix (in purple) to the left of the graph, the axis of symmetry (in red) passing through the focus and perpendicular to the directrix, and the vertex (in orange) on the graph

Parabolas: Finding Information from the Equation

Graph x2 = 4y and state the vertex, axis of symmetry. I can write the equation as:

y = (1/4)x2.

The vertex is obviously at the origin, The vertex is at (-b/2a;

(4ac-b2)/4a). x = 0.

The axis of symmetry is the vertical line right through the vertex:

Graph x2-3x-2 = y and state the vertex, axis of symmetry.

Vertex(3/2;-1/4)

Axis nof symmetry x=3/2

Let y=f(x)=x2-6x+8, find the vertex and axis of symmetry. Does its graph open up or down? Fin the maximum or minimum value of f(x) and state which it is. Sketch the graph.

Given that the vertex of the parabola is on the x-axis. What is the value of k? 0 4 8 16 24

A toy rocket is fired vertically from the ground. Its height in meters is given by: S(t)=36t-4,9t2 where t represents the time in second. What is the maximum height of the rocket?