In vertex form, a quadratic is written as y = a(x – h)^2 + k
The vertex is (h, k)
If the form is y = a(x + p)^2 + q, then the vertex is (-p, q)
Use the signs inside the parentheses carefully
The x-coordinate of the vertex comes from the value that makes the squared term zero
The y-coordinate of the vertex is the constant outside the squared term