How to Find the Line of Symmetry on a Parabola

Within mathematics, a function is another name for an equation, which represents one variable y in terms of x. In the function y =x^2, y is equal to a given value of x squared, or times itself. Another way of interpreting functions is to graph them in a coordinate plane. When you graph the function y = x^2, you form a u-shaped curve known as a parabola, which is symmetrical. You need not graph a given parabola to find the line about which it's symmetrical, although doing so will verify your answer.

Things You'll Need

  • Graph paper
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Solve your parabola's equation y = (x - h)^2 + k so that the x term (x - h) equals zero. If, for example, your parabola's equation is y = (x - 2)^2 + 5, this would make x = 2, since 2 - 2 = 0.

    • 2

      Draw a vertical line on your coordinate plane at x = 2. Make a dot along the x-axis at this value, then use a ruler (if necessary) to make the line.

    • 3

      Plot your parabola on the coordinate plane for various values of x. For the example equation y = (x - 2)^2 + 5, plug in the following values for x = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. These will yield y = 9, 6, 5, 6 and 9. When you plot the graph on your coordinate plane, you will notice that the parabola falls until x = 2 and begins rising again after it; x = 2 is this parabola's line of symmetry. For parabolas in the form y = (x - h)^2 + k, x = h is always the line of symmetry.

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