Graphing Quadratic Functions
Consider the graph of the quadratic parent function \(y=x^2\).
- What is the vertex of this parabola?
- Does this parabola open up or down?
Go to the Desmos activity below to explore how changing the values of \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) impact the graph a parabola written in Standard Form \(y=ax^2 + bx + c\).
Graphing Quadratic Functions | Desmos
3. What happens when \(a = 0\)? Why does this make sense?
4. What can you generalize about the shape and location of a parabola written in standard form when the values of \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) change?