The vertex is a key feature of a parabola. It’s either the highest or lowest point on the graph, depending on whether the parabola opens downwards or upwards, respectively. For a standard quadratic equation in the form of:
\ y = ax^2 + bx + c \
The vertex can be found using the formula for its coordinates:
\ x = -b / (2a) \
However, in the given exercise with simplified equations like:
- y = x^2
- y = 3x^2
- y = \( \frac{1}{3}x^2 \)
The vertex is at the origin (0,0). That means all the given parabolas share the same vertex. Noticing the position of the vertex when graphing will always be helpful, as it allows you to quickly identify the shape and orientation of the parabola.