## Section 6. Explore how the graphs of formulas change as the parameters change.

Example 20.   Consider this formula $y=a{{(x-h)}^{2}}+k$, which is a generalization of the formula we have graphed in several examples in this topic. That example is$y=4+2{{(x-3)}^{2}}=2{{(x-3)}^{2}}+4$, so there $a=2$, $h=3$, and $k=4$. In this section, we will use the spreadsheet to graph this in a way that will make it easy to explore what happens when we change one or more of (which we call parameters.)

2. Instead of putting the formula directly into column B, we will enter the three initial values $a=2$, $h=3$, and $k=4$ in cells over to the side. Please put the values in column G, cells G2, G3, and G4, respectively and the labels in column H.
3. Label column B as y. That is, enter y into cell B1. Then enter the formula in cell B2.   Notice that the cell references for a, h, and k must be entered with absolute references, so the formula that would have been    =2*(A2-3)^2+4   is, instead =$G$2*(A2-$G$3)^2+$G$4