list widest to narrowest

Question

y=-5x^2, y=1/2x^2, y=-0.15x^2, y=6x^2

Answer 1

The width of a parabola is determined by the quadratic coefficient (the number before the x^2 term). Increasing the quadratic coefficient decreases the width of the parabola, and vice versa. The sign of the quadratic coefficient does not matter; that determines whether the parabola opens up or down.

To list these parabolas from widest to narrowest, start with the equation with the smallest quadratic coefficient.

y=-.15x^2

y=1/2x^2

y=-5x^2

y=6x^2

Answer 2

-0.15x^2 <--- is the widest

1/2 x^2

-5x^2

6x^2 is the narrowest