Vertex form of a quadratic equation

A quadratic equation can be written in its vertex form. The vertex form of a quadratic equation makes it very easy to get the coordinates of the vertex of the parabola formed by that equation. It is thus very easy to graph a quadratic equation when it is given in the vertex form.

The vertex form of a quadratic equation is as follows:

y = a(x - h)^2 + k

Vertex of the above quadratic equation is given by (h, k)
A number of different features of the parabola can be determined from a quadratic equation written in the vertex form:

• If 'a' in the above equation is a positive number, then the parabola of the equation is shaped like a 'U'.
• If 'a' in the above equation is a negative number, then the parabola of the equation is shaped like an upside down 'U'.
• If the value of 'a' in the above equation increases more than 1, then the graph of its equation becomes narrower.
• If the value of 'a' in the above equation decreases from 1, then the graph of its equation becomes wider.
• If the value of 'a' in the above equation is zero, then it becomes a straight line lying on the x axis. (it is neither a parabola nor a quadratic equation if a = 0)