Axis of symmetry formula

Once you have the quadratic formula and the basics of quadratic equations down cold, it's time for the next level of your relationship with parabolas: learning about their vertex form.

Read on to learn more about the parabola vertex form and how to convert a quadratic equation from standard form to vertex form.

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Why Is Vertex Form Useful?

An Overview

The vertex form of an equation is an alternate way of writing out the equation of a parabola.

Normally, you'll see a quadratic equation written as $ax^2+bx+c$, which, when graphed, will be a parabola.

From this form, it's easy enough to find the roots of the equation (where the parabola hits the $x$-axis) by setting the equation equal to zero (or using the quadratic formula).

If you need to find the vertex of a parabola, however, the standard quadratic form is much less helpful. Instead, you'll want to convert your quadratic equation into vertex form.

What Is Vertex Form?

While the standard quadratic form is $ax^2+bx+c=y$, the vertex form of a quadratic equation is $\