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Axis of Symmetry in Quadratic Functions

The axis of symmetry of a parabola: - Is a vertical line that passes through the vertex and divides the parabola into two congruent halves. - Its equation can be found using the standard form equation y = ax2 + bx + c as the line x = -b/2a - For the parabola in the example, with vertex (2,1), the axis of symmetry is the line x = 2.

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805 views3 pages

Axis of Symmetry in Quadratic Functions

The axis of symmetry of a parabola: - Is a vertical line that passes through the vertex and divides the parabola into two congruent halves. - Its equation can be found using the standard form equation y = ax2 + bx + c as the line x = -b/2a - For the parabola in the example, with vertex (2,1), the axis of symmetry is the line x = 2.

Uploaded by

Paula Fana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Axis of Symmetry of a Parabola

 The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola.


 The axis of symmetry of a parabola is a vertical line that divides the parabola
into two congruent halves.
 The axis of symmetry always passes through the vertex of the parabola .
 The 𝒙 − 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 of the vertex is the equation of the axis of symmetry of the
parabola.

For a quadratic function in standard form, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 , the axis of symmetry is


−𝑏
a vertical line 𝑥 = .
2𝑎
Example 1:

Find the axis of symmetry of the parabola shown.

The 𝒙 − 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 of the vertex is the equation of the axis of symmetry of the
parabola.
The vertex of the parabola is (𝟐, 𝟏) .
So, the axis of symmetry is the line = 𝟐. .
Example 2:

Find the axis of symmetry of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝟔𝑥 + 𝟓 using the formula.


For a quadratic function in standard form, = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 , the axis of symmetry is
−𝑏
a vertical line 𝑥
= .
2𝑎
Here, 𝑎 = 𝟏, 𝑏 = −𝟔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐 = 𝟓 .
Substitute.

−(−6) 6
𝑥= = =3
2×1 2

Therefore, the axis of symmetry is 𝑥 = 𝟑.

Axis of symmetry

2
The axis of symmetry 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑝) + 𝑞 is the vertical line 𝑥 = −𝑝 .
The axis of symmetry passes through the turning point (−𝑝; 𝑞) and is parallel to
the 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.

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