Properties of parabolas worksheet for Algebra 1
For y = ax² + bx + c the axis of symmetry is x = -b over 2a, the vertex sits on it, and the y-intercept is c. The sign of a says which way it opens, and the vertex is then the minimum or the maximum, which also fixes the range.
Also taught in Algebra 2, at its own level and with its own examples.
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Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Properties of Parabolas Date Period Find what is asked for each parabola.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Properties of ParabolasAnswer keyVersion 1 Date Period Find what is asked for each parabola.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
How to do these
Find the vertex, axis of symmetry and -intercept, and whether it opens up or down:
- Axis: x = 6 over 2, which is 3.
- Vertex: y at x = 3 is 9 - 18 + 5, which is -4.
- Intercept c = 5; a is positive so it opens up.
The answer is Vertex ; axis ; -intercept ; opens up.
Where students go wrong
Losing the minus in -b over 2a. For y = x² - 6x + 5, b is -6, so the axis is at positive 3.
Also called vertex and axis of symmetry, maximum or minimum of a quadratic, range of a parabola or quadratic features.
What you can put on this worksheet
- Vertex, axis, intercept, direction
- Find the vertex, axis of symmetry and -intercept, and whether it opens up or down: → Vertex ; axis ; -intercept ; opens down
- The maximum or minimum value
- Find the maximum or minimum value of → Maximum,
- Domain and range
- Find the domain and range of → all real numbers;
- Every feature, including the x-intercepts
- Find the vertex, axis of symmetry, -intercepts and -intercept of → vertex ; axis ; -intercepts ; -intercept
- Read the features off a graph
- From the graph, find the vertex, axis of symmetry, -intercepts and -intercept. → vertex ; axis ; -intercepts ; -intercept
- Fraction coefficients
- Find the vertex and the minimum value:
→ Vertex min