Name:______

Algebra 1 Parabola Project

“Parabolas Are All Around Us”

Student Project Description:

Each of you has been given your own unique quadratic equation to work with for this project.

  • You MUST USE the quadratic equation that you have been assigned
  • You will be creating a poster or book
  • You will list the step-by-step procedure needed to draw the graph of a quadratic equation.
  • You will also be looking for real-life examples of parabolas.

My Quadratic Equation:

1. You must find the basic information about the graph of your quadraticequation.

  1. Does the parabola open up or down? ______
  1. How can this be determined from the equation?

______

______

______

  1. What is the equation for your axis of symmetry? ______
  1. What is the vertex of your parabola?

X Y

( , )

  1. Does your parabola have a maximum or minimum? ______
  1. What is the y-intercept of your parabola? ______
  1. What are the roots/zeros/x-intercepts of your parabola? (1 solution, 2 solutions, no solutions)

X = ______X = ______

  1. How do you find other points on the parabola? Find at least 4 other points.

X
Y

i.Graph the parabola on graph paper.

2.Find an example of a parabola in Oswego or the surrounding towns.

Either sketch this item or take a picture of it to include on your project. State where this item is located.

Item:______

It is located:______

______

Draw your picture below:

3.Create your project. Please write your name on the front of the project.

a.Write the equation that you have been given at the top of your poster board.

b.You need a statement such as “The parabola for this equation opens ___ because ___.”

c.Axis of Symmetry Section:

- You must include the formula that you use to find the axis of symmetry

- You must include the work that you did to find your equation.

- You must have a statement that says “The axis of symmetry is ___.”

d.Vertex Section:

- You must include all of the work that you did in order to find the vertex

- You must have a statement that says “The vertex is located at (___, ___).”

e.Maximum/Minimum Section:

- You must describe how you determine if the equation has a maximum or minimum value

- You must state what the value for the minimum or maximum is.

- You mustinclude a statement that says something like:

“The maximum value of this quadratic function is ___.”

f.Y-intercept Section:

- You must describe how you found the y-intercept and
- You must have a statement that says “The y-intercept for this equation is (___, ___).”

g.Roots/Zeros/X-Intercept Section:

- You must find the roots of the function in three ways:

1. by factoring

2. by completing the square

3. by using the Quadratic Formula.

Also include a statement that says “The roots of this quadratic equation are (___, ___) and (___, ___).

h.Other Points Section:

- You must show how you found four other points on your parabola.

  1. Graph:

- The graph of the parabola must be drawn on graph paper.

- The graph paper must indicate the scale that is being used.

- All points must be labeled.

  1. Real-Life Example:

- Find an example of a parabola in Oswego or the surrounding towns.

- Either sketch this item or take a picture of it to include on your project.

- State where this item is located.