SOLUTION: How do you make a parabola

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Question 877620: How do you make a parabola
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Plot it on the X-Y plane
The general equation is:
+y+=+a%2Ax%5E2+%2B+b%2Ax+%2B+c+
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A very simple parabola will
have +b+=+0+ and +c+=+0+
So, you have:
+y+=+a%2Ax%5E2+
--------------------
A good way to think about +a+ is:
(1) A small +a+ gives you a
wide parabola
-----------------
(2) A large +a+ gives you a
narrow parabola
-------------------
Here's a plot with +a+=+1%2F4+
+graph%28+400%2C+400%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+%281%2F4%29%2Ax%5E2+%29+
Here's a plot with +a+=+5+
+graph%28+400%2C+400%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+5%2Ax%5E2+%29+