If a parabola opens to the left, which of the following is its standard form?
Practice Questions
Q1
If a parabola opens to the left, which of the following is its standard form?
y^2 = -4px
x^2 = -4py
y^2 = 4px
x^2 = 4py
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If a parabola opens to the left, which of the following is its standard form?
Step 1: Understand that a parabola can open in different directions: up, down, left, or right.
Step 2: Know that the standard form of a parabola that opens to the left is different from one that opens to the right.
Step 3: The general form for a parabola that opens to the left is y^2 = -4px, where 'p' is a positive number that determines how wide or narrow the parabola is.
Step 4: Recognize that in this equation, 'y^2' indicates that the variable 'y' is squared, and the negative sign indicates that the parabola opens to the left.
Parabola Orientation – Understanding the orientation of parabolas based on their standard forms, specifically how the direction they open (left, right, up, down) affects their equations.
Standard Form of Parabolas – Recognizing the standard forms of parabolas, including the specific equations for those that open horizontally versus vertically.