Recall that a quadratic function has the form

\displaystyle f(x)=ax^{2}+bx+cf(x)=ax2+bx+c. 

where aa, bb, and cc are constants, and a\neq 0a≠0.

The graph of a quadratic function is a U-shaped curve called a parabola.  This

shape is shown below.

Parabola 

The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola.

In graphs of quadratic functions, the sign on the coefficient aa affects whether

the graph opens up or down. If a<0a<0, the graph makes a frown (opens

down) and if a>0a>0 then the graph makes a smile (opens up). This is shown

below.

Direction of Parabolas

The sign on the coefficient  aa determines the direction of the parabola. 

Features of Parabolas
Parabolas have several recognizable features that characterize their shape and

placement on the Cartesian plane.

Vertex
One important feature of the parabola is that it has an extreme point, called

the vertex. If the parabola opens up, the vertex represents the lowest point on

the graph, or the minimum value of the quadratic function. If the parabola
opens down, the vertex represents the highest point on the graph, or the

maximum value. In either case, the vertex is a turning point on the graph. 

Axis of Symmetry
Parabolas also have an axis of symmetry, which is parallel to the y-axis. The

axis of symmetry is a vertical line drawn through the vertex.

yy-intercept
The y-intercept is the point at which the parabola crosses the y-axis. There

cannot be more than one such point, for the graph of a quadratic function. If

there were, the curve would not be a function, as there would be two yy values

for one xx value, at zero.

xx-intercepts
The x-intercepts are the points at which the parabola crosses the x-axis. If they

exist, the x-intercepts represent the zeros, or roots, of the quadratic function,

the values of xx at which y=0y=0. There may be zero, one, or two xx-

intercepts. The number of xx-intercepts varies depending upon the location of

the graph (see the diagram below).

Possible  xx-intercepts

A parabola can have no x-intercepts, one x-intercept, or two x-intercepts.

Recall that if the quadratic function is set equal to zero, then the result is

a quadratic equation. The solutions to the equation are called the roots of the

function. These are the same roots that are observable as the xx-intercepts of

the parabola.

Notice that, for parabolas with two xx-intercepts, the vertex always falls

between the roots. Due to the fact that parabolas are symmetric, the xx-

coordinate of the vertex is exactly in the middle of the xx-coordinates of the

two roots.