MAth 6A (Periods 1 & 2)

Graphs of Equations 11-9 (cont'd)

The following equations create curves that are called PARABOLAS!! Notice the difference in these equations from our previous equations
y = x² +1
when we create your three column table using integers from -2 to 2
we notice
y = (-2)² +1 = 4 + 1 = 5 ordered pair (-2, 5)
y = (-1)² +1 = 1 + 1 = 2 ordered pair (-1, 2)
y = (0)² +1 = 0 + 1 = 1 ordered pair (0, 1)
y = (1)² +1 = 1 + 1 = 2 ordered pair (1, 2)
y = (2)² +1 = 4 + 1 = 5 ordered pair (-2, 5)

When you graph this... you get a "U" shaped graph.

Remember linear equations LINEar equations are lines!
and look like y = x + 2

PARABOLAS have the form y = x² or y = -x²

Let's try
y = 2 - x²
With our 3 column table
for values of x from -2 to 2
we find
y = 2 -(-2)² = 2 -(4) = -2 and the ordered pair is (-2,-2)
y = 2 -(-1)² = 2 - (1) = 1 and the ordered pair is ( -1, 1)
y = 2 -(0)² = 2 - 0 = 2 and the ordered pair is (0, 2)
y = 2 -(1)² = 2 -1 = 1 and the ordered pair is (1, 1)
y = 2 -(2)² = 2 - (4) = -2 and the ordered pair is (2, -2)

When you graph these ordered points you find you have an upside down U
hmmm... y = -x² results in a sad face parabola
and y = x² results in a happy face parabola!!