Question

The equation x=6y^2 describes a parabola. Which way does the parabola open

Answer 1

if the coefient in front of the squared term is positive, it opens to the right or up
if it is in front of x^2, it opens up
if it is in front of y^2, it opens right


opens to the right

Answer 2

The parabola opens right.

Explanation:

The equation of the parabola is
`x=6y^2`

The equation of the horizontal parabola is
`x=ay^2`

• If a >0 then the parabola open right
• And if a<0 then the parabola opens left.

For the given parabola, the value of a is 6, which is greater than zero.

Hence, the parabola opens right.

We can see it from the attached graph also. The vertex of the parabola is at origin and opens right.