SOLUTION: Hello, I am having a lot of trouble in algebra II right now with graphing parabolas. Could you do me a favor, and write out the steps in graphing a parabola. For example: Step 1: (

Algebra ->  Quadratic-relations-and-conic-sections -> SOLUTION: Hello, I am having a lot of trouble in algebra II right now with graphing parabolas. Could you do me a favor, and write out the steps in graphing a parabola. For example: Step 1: (      Log On


   

Question 55980: Hello, I am having a lot of trouble in algebra II right now with graphing parabolas. Could you do me a favor, and write out the steps in graphing a parabola. For example: Step 1: (blah blah blah)
Step 2: (...)
Maybe an example problem would be: x(squared)=8y
Thanks again.
Answer by Lacey020991(49) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Step 1: Find the parent graph (in this case it is y=x^2)
Step 2: If it has a number after the x^2 the the graph moves up and down
--------Ex. y=x^2+3 (the red line is the original and the green is the new)
graph%28300%2C200%2C-6%2C6%2C-6%2C6%2Cx%5E2%2Cx%5E2%2B3%29
Step 3: If the equation has a number infront of the x^2 then it changes the slope by that number. (called a vertical stretch)
--------Ex. y=3x^2
graph%28300%2C200%2C-6%2C6%2C-6%2C6%2Cx%5E2%2C3x%5E2%29
Step 4: if it has a number in parenthesis with the x and whole thing is squared the it moves the graph left or right. If it's a negative number it moves it right. If it's a positive number it moves the graph left.
-------Ex. y=(x+3)^2
graph%28300%2C200%2C-6%2C6%2C-6%2C6%2Cx%5E2%2C%28x%2B3%29%5E2%29
Step 5: If it has a negative infront of it, then the graph flips upside down.
-------Ex.-x^2
graph%28300%2C200%2C-6%2C6%2C-6%2C6%2Cx%5E2%2C-x%5E2%29
.
Now heres and example with all of the steps:
.
y = -3(x-2)^2 + 1
the negative flips the graph
the 3 make a veritcal stretch by factor of 3
the 2 in the parenthesis moves the graph right 2
the one at the end moves the graph up one
graph%28300%2C200%2C-8%2C8%2C-8%2C8%2Cx%5E2%2C-3%28x-2%29%5E2%2B1%29
.
If any of this confused you just let me know and ill try to explain it better.