Question

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

Answer 1

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