Circles v. Parabolas

Both at once? Not exactly (or at least not yet). More importantly, can you tell the difference between the two just by looking? Not at the graph, at the equation

Some example equations (x – 2)2 + (y + 3)2 = 4 Is the same as (x – 2)2 = 4 – (y+3)2 Is not the same as (x – 2)2 = 4 – (y + 3) Which is which? The top two equations are circles, the third is a parabola

How can you tell Watch the exponents For a parabola, one variable will be squared. For a circle, both will be. This includes the squares outside the parenthesis (ie, if it’s inside a squared parenthesis, it will end up being squared)