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Parabolas Again

Age 14 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star
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another family
Here is another family of graphs sent in by Andrei from Rumania together with his solution to this problem. Can you find the equations of the graphs in Andrei's illustration?

These challenges, together with the two challenges Parabolic Patterns and More Parabolic Patterns , develop the ideas of transformations of graphs and the corresponding equations.

The illustrations give families of graphs, all of parabolas, formed by reflections in the $x$ and $y$ axes and in the line $y=x$, together with translations and stretches parallel to the axes.

You are not expected to plot and join points although it is helpful to consider where the graphs cut the axes. Rather you should think of the features of the graphs and the effects of the transformations.


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Cubic Spin

Prove that the graph of f(x) = x^3 - 6x^2 +9x +1 has rotational symmetry. Do graphs of all cubics have rotational symmetry?

Sine Problem

In this 'mesh' of sine graphs, one of the graphs is the graph of the sine function. Find the equations of the other graphs to reproduce the pattern.

Parabolic Patterns

The illustration shows the graphs of fifteen functions. Two of them have equations y=x^2 and y=-(x-4)^2. Find the equations of all the other graphs.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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