How do you graph y= -1/4x^2 by plotting points?

1 Answer
Alan N.
May 20, 2017

See explanation below.

Explanation:

y is a parabola with a critical point at (0,0)

Since the coefficient of x^2 is negative y has a single maximum value.

Hence, (0,0) is an absolute maximum.
and, y has no other intercepts on the x or y axes.

To assist plotting y by points it will be necessary to construct a table of points, bearing in mind that y is symetric about the y axis.
E.g. (-4,-4), (-2,-1), (0,0), (2,-1), (-4,-4)

This can be seen from the graph of y below: graph{-1/4x^2 [-11.01, 11.49, -8.865, 2.385]}

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