Mathematical Practices
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Use a table of values to graph key points.
Graph:
Description: This graph's highest point is at (0,0) and the graph opens downwards.
It takes three distinct points to graph a quadratic function. Let's look at a table of values for y=- x^2, then plot the points and the parabola.
| x | - x^2 | y = - x^2 |
|---|---|---|
| -2 | -( -2)^2 | -4 |
| -1 | -( -1)^2 | -1 |
| 0 | -( 0)^2 | 0 |
| 1 | -( 1)^2 | -1 |
| 2 | -( 2)^2 | -4 |
Now, let's plot those points and draw our parabola.
This parabola has a highest point at (0,0) and the graph opens downwards.