What is the axis of symmetry?

The axis of symmetry is the idea used in the graph of certain algebraic expressions that create parabols or almost U -shaped forms. This is called quadratic functions and their form usually looks like this equation: y = ax 2 + bx + c. Indeed, the simplest of these functions is y = x the prize on which it is located. The axis of symmetry will not be so conveniently divided by the Y axis. Instead, it will be to the left or to the right of it, depending on the equation, and it may be necessary to manipulate the function. It is important to determine the top of the parabola or the starting point because it is the X coordinates is the same axis of symmetry. Makes it easier to Graphs of the rest of the parabol.

To happen, there are several ways to approach the problem. When a person faces a function like y = x

2 + 4x + 12, a simple formula can use a simple formula to derive the top and axis of symmetry; Remember that the axis passes through the peak. This requires two parts.

The first is to set x equal to negative B divided by 2A: x = -4/2 or -2. This number is the coordinate x the vertex and is replaced back to the equation to obtain Y. 4 + 16 + 12 = 32, or y = 32, which derives the top like (-2, 32). The axis of symmetry would be stretched via line -2 and people would know where to draw it because they know where the parabola started.

Sometimes the quadratic function is presented in a formed or capturing form and may look like this: y = a (x-m) (X-N). The aim is to detect X again, so deduce the line of symmetry, and then find y and the top of replacing x back to the equationsE. To get X, it is set as the same as M + n divided by 2.

Although conceptually this form of graph and finding axis of symmetry can take some time, it is a valuable concept in mathematics and algebra. This tends to learn after students had some time to work with quadratic equations and learn how to perform some basic operations such as factoring. Most students meet this concept at the end of the first year of Algebra and can be visited in more complex forms in later mathematical studies.