A parabola is a symmetric curve that is shaped like an arch.

Formally, a parabola is the path taken by a point which moves so that its distance from a fixed point, called the focus, is equal to its distance from a fixed line, called the directrix.

For example, the graphs of the following functions are parabolas:

• \(y = x^2\)
• \(y = 4x^2 + 57x + 17\)
• \(y = -x^2 + 3x + 2\)

Along with the circle, ellipse and hyperbola, the parabola is one of the conic sections.