Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Direct Variation
Direct variation describes a relationship between two variables where one is a constant multiple of the other. In the equation y = kx^2, y varies directly with the square of x, meaning as x increases or decreases, y changes proportionally to the square of that change, with k being the constant of variation.
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Quadratic Functions
A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, typically expressed in the form y = ax^2 + bx + c. In this case, since k > 0, the graph of y = kx^2 will be a parabola that opens upwards, indicating that as x moves away from zero in either direction, y increases.
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Graphing Parabolas
Graphing parabolas involves plotting the quadratic function on a coordinate plane. The vertex represents the minimum point for k > 0, and the axis of symmetry is the vertical line x = 0. The shape of the graph is U-shaped, and understanding its key features helps in matching the function to its corresponding graph.
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