<p>Or...are we EVER going to use parabolas/the quadratic function on the SAT? I took it in June and I don't remember that stuff at ALL.</p>
<p>Well, you'll use it if you take a Physics related major in college.</p>
<p>On the SAT, I don't think you need to know the parabolic functions ... but I have them stored in my calculator just in case. :D</p>
<p>We probably won't, but the SAT tests us on it, so in actuality we do need to KNOW it, so that we may gain entry to a university, and become successful.</p>
<p>ew. Why would they test us on that?</p>
<p>cos it's a basic concept of maths, maths is much more than 1+1 = 2 lol</p>
<p>man...now I have something else to review.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I like the response one of my teachers from last year gave regarding a similar question:</p>
<p>Student: "When are we ever going to need to use this in real life [some obscure geometry concept?"</p>
<p>Teacher: "I'm not teaching you this so that you can calculate [ ] in real life. I'm teaching you to exercise your mind, to think."</p>
<p>The overwhelming majority of the stuff you learn in the HS curriculum is irrelevant in real life. However, you're developing the work ethic and thinking process that is FAR more valuable in real life than any random history/science/english concept.</p>
<p>I know, I know. However, it's just so frustrating when you think that you've got everything down pat...but then you stumble upon the "Let's Review Quadratic Functions!" page in your SAT prep book.</p>
<p>You only need to be able to answer basic questions about parabolas, these really aren't emphasized on the SAT.</p>
<p>E.g., suppose f(x) = 9 - x^2. You should be able to say if the function graph points up or down, where the x-intercepts are, where the parabola crosses the y axis, what the maximum of f is. Try to figure these out, then check with a graphing calculator.</p>
<p>What do you mean by "storing" parabolic funtions on your calculator? There is an infinite amount of parabolic functions.</p>
<p>Not really. We only use quadratic equations as parabolas in school. So you don't have to worry about all those tenth degree functions and crap.</p>
<p>All quadratic parabolic equations can be summed up as:</p>
<p>x^2 = 4py</p>
<p>OR (x-h)^2 = 4p(y-k)</p>
<p>At least I think they can...</p>
<p>But how (or WHY) does would one store them?</p>