when is the vertex of a parabola the minimum value of the quadratic function
The vertex of a parabola is the point where the parabola changes direction and either reaches its minimum or maximum value.
For a quadratic function of the form f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c, the vertex occurs at the point (-b/2a, f(-b/2a)).
If the coefficient "a" is positive, the parabola opens upwards and the vertex is the minimum value of the function.
If the coefficient "a" is negative, the parabola opens downwards and the vertex is the maximum value of the function.