Sketch one example of each of the following functions of the form y=ax^2+bx+c and y=k(x-b)^2+c, where a,b,c and k are constants. Evaluate the differences between the two formats.

I'm not sure...

so, pick some values for a,b,c,k and see what happens.

Given the two examples, you can see that k=a
And you know that for
y = ax^2+bx+c the vertex is at x = -b/2a.

Go to some online graphing site and play around for a while.