Question

Explain how you can tell whether a parabola opens upward, downward, to the left, or to the right

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

If the x is squared, the parabola is vertical (opens up or down). If the y is squared, it is horizontal (opens left or right). If a is positive, the parabola opens up or to the right. If it is negative, it opens down or to the left.

Answer 2

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

For a standard function:

If the coefficient of the x² term is positive, the parabola opens upward.

If the coefficient of the x² term is negative, the parabola opens downward.

For an inverse function:

If the coefficient of the y² term is positive, the parabola opens right

If the coefficient of the y² term is negative, the parabola opens left