Graphing parabolas

What this lesson shows

y = x² − 4. Here's the twist: squaring a number never comes out negative… so what shape will THAT make?

Try it yourself

Real questions from this lesson's worksheets — answers below each one.

1. Drag the orange vertex of the parabola to the point (-3, -2).
   Show answer

   -3,-2
2. Drag the orange vertex of the parabola to the point (-3, -1).
   Show answer

   -3,-1
3. Plot the point (3, 2) on the coordinate plane.
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   3,2
4. Drag the orange vertex of the parabola to the point (-3, 0).
   Show answer

   -3,0