The Standard and General Form of a Parabola

Instructions:

  1. Click on the "New Parabola" Button.

  2. Follow the instructions and hit the "enter" key when you have finished entering each step.  If you need a hint, hit the "Hint" button. Please use fractions such as 2/3 not decimals.

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When you have explored with the applet enough that you feel that you are comfortable with the standard and general form of a parabola, try the following written exercises. Please answer each with a few complete sentences and then back up each answer with an example.

Written Exercises

  1. What are the important features of a parabola that help to determine its equation in standard form?

  2. If the equation of a parabola is presented in standard form, what must be done to come up with the equation in general form?

 

 

Information on Completing the Square

Information on the General Form of a Parabola and its Graph

Information on Shifting and Reflecting a Parabola

Information on the Geometry of a Parabola (Focus and Directrix)

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