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Drawing from Standard Form

Part of the Quadratics & Complex Numbers section of Coddy's Algebra 2 journey. Lesson 2 of 48.

Last time you found the mirror line, x = h. The vertex, the point where the parabola turns, is on that line. Its height is the output at h. So the vertex is (h, f(h)).

For f(x)=x2+2x−3f\left(x\right) = {x}^{2}+2x-3, h = -1 and f(−1)=1−2−3=−4f\left(-1\right) = 1 - 2 - 3 = -4. So the vertex is (-1, -4). One step to the right, the curve goes up by a. Here a = 1, so the next point is (0, -3). With these two points you can draw the parabola.

The parabola y = x squared plus 2x minus 3, with its vertex (-1, -4) and the point (0, -3)

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Challenge

Draw y=x2+4x+1y = {x}^{2}+4x+1. Find the vertex first. Then drag the vertex and the second point.

Try it yourself

y=x2+4x+1y = x^{2}+4x+1

Draw the parabola

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