document.write( "Question 263410: How do you tell which way a parabola will open by their equation? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #194110 by drk(1908) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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The general parabola formula is
\n" ); document.write( " $\"y+=+ax%5E2+%2B+bx+%2B+c\"$
\n" ); document.write( "or
\n" ); document.write( " $\"y+=+a%28x-h%29%5E2+%2B+k\"$
\n" ); document.write( "in either case to determine up or down, look at the \"a\" value
\n" ); document.write( "If \"a' is positive, then it opens up
\n" ); document.write( "if \"a\" is negative, then it opens down \n" ); document.write( "

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