Expert: Scott A Wilson - 3/15/2010

Question
Graph x= -y^2

I'm confused on how to get the set or pair to graph, since I can find the vertex for example, I don't have the value of b to use formula, thanks for your help

Answer
The value of x is the position on the horizontal assymptote and
the value of y is the position on the vertical assymptote.

In other words, x is how far to the right to go (which makes it left if negative) and
y is how far to rise (which makes it fall if negative).

So a few points are
x   y
0   0
-1  ±1
-4  ±2
-9  ±3.

The ± is for both +y and -y, depending on the value of y.
Another way to list them would be (-9,-3), (-4,-2), (-1,1), (0,0), (-1,1), (-4,2), (-3,9)
where the 1st is the horizontal distance and the 2nd number is the vertical distance.