Parabola: standard form y² = 4ax (y squared equals 4 a x; vertex at origin, opens along +x)
jee-mainjee-advanced
y squared equals 4 a x; vertex at origin, opens along +x
What each symbol means
| Symbol | What it stands for |
|---|---|
| a | Distance from vertex to focus (a > 0) |
| x, y | Point on parabola |
When to use this
Right-opening parabola, vertex at origin, focus (a, 0), directrix x = −a.