Figure 1. Above we have a parabola with its vertex and axis of symmetry labeled.

Equation of a Parabola

The standard form of an equation of a parabola with

vertex (h, k)

Axis of Symmetry x = h

is written as: If a > 0, then k is the minimum, and the parabola opens upward.

If a < 0, then k is the maximum, and the parabola opens downward.

Below, two parabolas are graphed:

 Figure 2. Figure 3. Each parabola has a focus, and a directrix.

 Figure 4. For any given point, the distance to the focus is equal to the distance to the directrix.

The Latus Rectum specifies the width of the parabola:

 Figure 5. The smaller a is, the wider the parabola is.
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