1. Parabola 1, Up or Down(0,0)

Examine the standard form of a parabola that opens upward or downward with vertex at the origin.

2. Parabola 2, Right or Left (0,0)

This parabola opens to the right or left, and is symmetric about the x-axis. Find the standard form for this parabola.

3. Parabola 3, Up or Down(h,k)

No longer is the vertex on the origin, but that shouldn't slow you down. The vertex is (h,k) and the axis of symmetry is x=h.

4. Parabola 4, Right or Left (h,k)

Parabolas in this "standard form" have a vertex point at (h,k) and are symmetric about y=k.

5. Parabola 5 Reflective Property

Check out this fascinating example of light and parabolas. Then try to construct the television rays coming into your Satellite dish.