Stretching and compressing the standard parabola
The standard parabola can be stretched and compressed with the parameter $a$. The general formula is:
$y=ax^2$
!
Remember
- If $|a|$ > 1, the graph is steeper than the standard parabola and is stretched.
- If $|a|$ < 1, the graph is flatter than the standard parabola and is compressed.
Example
$\color{green}{g(x)=\frac12x^2}$
$\color{blue}{f(x)=x^2}$
$\color{brown}{h(x)=2x^2}$
