The general equation of a quadratic curve is
Each the coefficnets
and
has a different role in determining the shape and position of the curve.
(or the point with coordinates
)is the intercept of the curve with the y – axis. The intercept is the value of y for which x=0.
determines the 'width' of the curve, or the degree of horizontal stretch.
and
define a line of symmetric with equation
andtogether determine the minimum or maximum point of the curve, also called the vertex. If
the vertex is a minimum. If
the vertex is a maximum. For the general quadratic
the vertex is at
Example: If
the
– intercept is at
there is a line of symmetry with equation
and the vertex is at the point
or
