How do you graph the parabola y=(x-3)^2 +5 using vertex, intercepts?

1 Answer
Aug 8, 2017

Since the parabola is in the form of:

y = a(x-h) + k

The entire parabola translates 3 units to the right and 5 units up. Therefore (3, 5) is the vertex (minimum turning point). Because the minimum point is shifted up by 5, he graph does not 'touch' the x-axis. Therefore, no x-intercepts can be determined on a real plane.

However, we can determine the y-intercept by substituting in x=0 into the original equation.

y = (0-3)^2 + 5

y = 9 + 5

y = 14

Therefore the y-intercept is (0, 14)

Plot the points (0, 14) and (3, 5) on the Cartesian plane, connect the points in a parabolic form, and you have your graph.

graph{y = (x-3)^2 + 5 [-14.24, 14.24, -7.12, 7.12]}