Question

how do you tell what way a parabola is opening?
x^2-7x+y=0

Answer 1

Yours is opening up. If there was a negative sign in front of the x^2, it would be opening down

Answer 2

Hm.. we can only make that determination after we have y (or x if we involve the horizontal parabolas) isolated. Since we have y and x^2 - 7x on the same side, we need to move it over which will flip our sign!

Answer 3

so then it will become -x^2

Answer 4

Yup, which actually makes this parabola face downwards.
In general, y = ax^2 the sign of a always determines the direction of the parabola. :)
Or x = ay^2 if we include the horizontal parabola, where a>0 makes the parabola point right.

Answer 5

sweet thank you

Answer 6

Glad to help. :)