SOLUTION: Please help with problem. It comes from a homework sheet. Thank you. Find the vertex of the parabola and determine whether the parabola opens upward, downward, to the left, or t

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Quadratic-relations-and-conic-sections -> SOLUTION: Please help with problem. It comes from a homework sheet. Thank you. Find the vertex of the parabola and determine whether the parabola opens upward, downward, to the left, or t      Log On

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Question 139741: Please help with problem. It comes from a homework sheet. Thank you.
Find the vertex of the parabola and determine whether the parabola opens upward, downward, to the left, or to the right.
15.) y = -(x+2)2 to the second power + 2
Answer by solver91311(12150) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Left/Right parabolas have the exponent on the y variable, so you know right off that this is an up/down situtation. Expand the binomial so that your equation is in the form y=ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc. If a%3E0, that is to say if the lead coefficient is positive, then the parabola opens upward. If a%3C0, then it opens downward. Of course, if a=0 you don't have a parabola at all.