How do you find the axis of symmetry if only given points (-5,-1) and and (3, -1)?

1 Answer
Oct 22, 2015

Plot the points on graph paper and notice that you have the same y-coordinate for both points.

Explanation:

This is a parabola that either opens upward or downward because at #y=-1#, the function takes on two x-values (-5 and 3).

Because a parabola is symmetric, the axis of symmetry must lie exactly midway between the two x-values.

Axis of Symmetry: #x=(-5+3)/2=-1#

Hope that helped