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How to find the Equation of a Parabola? If you have ever noticed the shape of a satellite dish, then you have found a parabola. In mathematical terms, you get a parabola when you cut through a cone at a certain angle that is parallel to one of its sides. The simplest way to figure out the equation of a parabola is by knowing the vertex, a point present on parabola itself. PARABOLA FORMULA - What if we told you that you are familiar with the formula of a parabola? If you are familiar with a quadratic equation in the form of y= ax² + bx + c, then you have found the standard formula of a parabola. But with some information about a parabola, then you can write its equation in vertex form, which looks like: If the given parabola opens horizontally, then we use x = a(x -h)² + k if the given parabola opens vertically, then we use y = a(y -k)² + h VERTEX OF THE PARABOLA - In both equations, coordinates (h,k) denotes vertex of the parabola, which is the point where the axis of symmetry intersects the line of a parabola. To break it down for you, if you fold a parabola from the middle in equal halves, the vertex will be the peak of the parabola. FINDING THE EQUATION OF PARABOLA - When you are asked to find the equation of parabola, you will be given enough information to find out the vertex or any other point on it. Once you have enough information, you can calculate the equation of the parabola in three steps 1. Determine whether parabola is vertical or horizontal - First, decide the form of the vertex equation that you will use. If the parabola opens horizontally (which means the open side of parabola faces up or down) then you will apply this equation: x = a(y -k)² + h and in case the parabola opens vertically (which means the open side faces left or right), then you will apply this equation: y = a(x -h)² + k Assuming the parabola opens vertically, we will substitute the values in the second equation 2. Substitute the values in vertex equation - Substitute the vertex coordinates (h,k) in the equation. Supposing the vertex lies at (1, 2), we will substitute h = 1 and k = 2. y = a(x – 1)² + 2 3. Using another point to find the value of 'a.' - Finally, you have to calculate the value of a. to do this, we pick any point (x,y) other than vertex on the parabola, and substitute it in the equation Assuming the value of the point (x,y) as (3,5). So, we will substitute x=3 and y=5 Solving for 'a.' - y = a(x-1)² + 2, 5 = a(3-1)² + 2, 5 = a(2)² + 2, 5 = a(4) +2 , 5 – 2 = a(4), 3 = a(4), a = 3/4 now, that you know the value of 'a', substitute it in your equation y = (3/4) (x -1)² +2, is the equation of parabola with (1,2) vertex and having the point (3,5). These worksheets and lessons help students learn to write and understand the equations of parabolas.