Question

A radio telescope has a parabolic surface. If it is 1m deep and 16m wide how far is the focus from the vertex?

Answer 1

Basing on the description, a parabola opening up with vertex at origin, the formula with vertex at origin is used, x^2 = 4py. p is the focus and so with the dimensions given, we obtain a 0.25 and that is the distance of the focus to the vertex.