First, you need a quadratic equation. That’s any equation that looks like y = ax² + bx + c, where a, b, and c are numbers, and a is definitely not zero. If a is zero, you’ve got a boring straight line. Nobody invites that line to parties.
Your parabola will either open upward (like a happy chipmunk) or downward (like a disappointed dad). The axis of symmetry? It’s the vertical line that runs right through the vertex—the highest or lowest point. Think of it as the spine of your parabola.
