SOLUTION: find the vertex of the following equation and state whether it opens up, down, left or right: y=x^2-4 Please help me with this! Thank you

Algebra ->  Finance -> SOLUTION: find the vertex of the following equation and state whether it opens up, down, left or right: y=x^2-4 Please help me with this! Thank you      Log On


   

Question 875383: find the vertex of the following equation and state whether it opens up, down, left or right:
y=x^2-4
Please help me with this! Thank you
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Opens up or down? What is the coefficient on the x^2 term?

For vertex, what if the full version of standard form were used? You need to know how to read from it:
y=1%28x-0%29%5E2-4;
Can you read the vertex now? When you have y=x%5E2, the vertex is (0,0). What was changed?


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y is a function in terms of x.
a=1 and a%3E0, so opens upward.
Vertex is (0,-4).