Adding Parabola Layers

Black and white graph of a parabola. The parabola opens downwards and has a vertex at (0, 0). The x-axis goes from negative 10 to 10 and is labeled "X". The y-axis goes from negative 10 to 10 and is labeled "Y".

To add a parabola to a Cartesian graph:

  1. Insert a Cartesian graph or edit an existing graph by double-clicking it. The Cartesian Graph dialog box opens.

  2. In the Layers section, click Add.

  3. Select Parabola in the Add Cartesian Layer dialog box and then click OK.

  4. Choose a parabola type. The parabola can open up, down, left, or right, and can be centered on the origin or on an arbitrary point.
    - Choose x2 = 4ay to create a parabola that opens up or down and is centered on the origin.
    - Choose (x - h)2 = 4a(y - k) to create a parabola that opens up or down and is centered on a point other than the origin.
    - Choose y2 = 4ax to create a parabola that opens right or left and is centered on the origin
    - Choose (y - k)2 = 4a(x - h) to create a parabola that opens right or left and is centered on a point other than the origin.

  5. Enter the distance between the vertex and the focus (a).

  6. If the parabola is not centered on the origin, enter values for the vertex (h, k).

  7. Enter the Domain of the function. The default domain is from -Inf to Inf.

  8. Select a Line Style for the line.

  9. Select a Line Color.

  10. Select a Relation to specify how shading is applied to the graph.

    Relation Shading
    = The line is shaded.
    < The area outside the curve is shaded.
    <= The line and the area outside the curve is shaded.
    > The area within the curve is shaded.
    >= The line and area within the curve is shaded.

  11. Click Fill Color to specify the color of the shaded area of the graph.

  12. Click Fill Shading to specify the pattern applied to the shaded area of the graph.

  13. If you want the layer to display only if a certain condition is met, enter an equation or a variable that evaluates to true or false into the Show if field. .

    Note: When entering variables, enclose the variable name in two opening and two closing number signs (for example, ##var1## = 3). The variable you reference must be defined for the question or the preface associated with the question.

  14. Click OK.