Graph y=1⁄3x²
So how the flippity floo does one graph this wacky equation? Well, first, you need to get your (x,y) values, or your coordinates. All you have to do to find your coordinates is plug in random numbers for x, really. But you're going to want to choose numbers divisible by three for this equation so you get integers (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.). To keep your work organized, use a table.
So what I did was I plugged in 0 for x in the equation. 0 squared is just 0, and anything times 0 is 0, so y=0.
Then I plugged in 3 for x in the equation. 3 squared is 9, and 1/3 times 9 is 9/3 or 9 divided by 3. 9 divided by 3 is 3, so y=3.
Finally, I plugged in 6 for x in the equation. 6 squared is 36, and 36 divided by 3 is 12, so y=12. (Notice how the values are not constant).
Onto graphing. First, plot (0,0). Then (3,3), and finally (6,12). So now you have half of a parabola, or the symmetric curve you get when you graph a quadratic function. So how do you get the other half? Easy-you just reflect those coordinates across the y-axis. You'd end up getting (0,0), (-3,3) and (-6,12).
So what is the domain and range of this equation? Think of the domain as the x values, or the input. And think of the range as the y values, or the output. In this equation, the domain is all real numbers. Don't think too much about what the heck "real numbers" are because they're just integers, fractions, and decimals. (0, 1, 2, pi, -7.726382, 1/900, etc.) The range in this equation is y ≥ 0
I'll explain other ways of writing the domain and range later.
Feel free to ask any questions
Or correct me on anything xD
Works Cited
1. "Graphing y=ax^2." Pearson Realize. Pearson Education, Inc., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.
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Kurgu OlmayanLessons in any basic subject up to the high school level. -Starting with Math and Chemistry, but I can help in anything else... probably xD Spanish notes incoming