Sketch the basic quadratic equation, y = x2 using a table of values. Find the first and second differences from the table of value

Question

Sketching a graph

Answer 1

x	y	1st diff	2nd diff (constant 2)
-2	4
-1	1	1-4=-3
0	0	0-1=-1	-1-(-3)=-1+3=2
1	1	1-0=1	1-(-1)=1+1=2
2	4	4-1=3	3-1=2

Graph of y=x²:

The points A-E are as in the table.  Note the symmetry about the y-axis.