1. Graphing parabola using
methods of squares
What you need to do is that you just draw six
squares with sides four times the focus then you
can visualize the graph of a parabola provided you
already locate the vertex of the parabola.
Here are the steps you will follow:
Translate the equation to form x2= 4py for the
parabola with vertex at the origin.
And (x-h)2= 4p(y-k) for the parabola with vertex at
(h,k)

2. Sample : Plot the graph of x2
= 12y.
Solution: transform the equation to x2
=4py
4py=12y : if we divide both sides by 4y we will
get p= 3
With these data we can now graph the
parabola in which our the focus is at (0,p) or
(0,3), the directrix is y=-p or y=-3.
What we need is now to construct the six
squares with sides 2p or 6 units

3. The line in violet is the length of latus rectum, while the left-right arrow
in blue is the directrix, and the circles in red are the ordered pairs of the
parabola foud at the edges of the squares.

4. Thank you for viewing
Virgilio rollon paragele
Teacher at
Tomas cabili national high school