Many, many years ago, during my Algebra 2 class, we had the classic assignment of graphing parabolas. After a while of “select X, calculate Y,” I came to the conclusion that there had to be a simpler ...

Plotting a graph takes time. Often mathematicians just want to know the key features. These are: shape, location and some key points (such as where the graph crosses the axes or turning points).

A quadratic graph is produced when you have an equation of the form \(y = ax^2 + bx + c\), where \(b\) and \(c\) can be zero but \(a\) cannot be zero. All quadratic graphs have a line of symmetry.