Question

The right triangle ABC shown below is inscribed inside a parabola. Point B is also the maximum point of the parabola (vertex) and point C is the x intercept of the parabola. If the equation of the parabola is given by y = -x2 + 4x + C, find C so that the area of the triangle ABC is equal to 32 square units.

Answer 1

h = -b / 2a = 2 : x coordinate of the vertex of the parabola k = -(2)2 + 4(2) + C = 4 + C : y coordinate of vertex x = (2 + √(4 + C)) , x = (2 - √(4 + C)) : the two x intercepts of the parabola. length of BA = k = 4 + C length of AC = 2 + √(4 + C) - 2 = √(4 + C) area = (1/2)BA * AC = (1/2) (4 + C) * √(4 + C) (1/2) (4 + C) * √(4 + C) = 32 : area is equal to 32 C = 12 : solve above for C.