Final answer:
The value of h in the vertex form of a parabola f(x) = (x - h)² + k, with the vertex (-5, -2), is directly given by the x-coordinate of the vertex. Therefore, h is -5.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question concerns the vertex form of a parabola, f(x) = (x − h)² + k, where the vertex is given as (-5, -2). We want to find the value of h in this equation.
The vertex form indicates that the parabola's vertex is at the point (h, k), which means h and k are the x and y coordinates of the vertex, respectively.
Given that the vertex of the parabola is (-5, -2), we can directly read off the value of h from the x-coordinate of the vertex.
Therefore, the value of h is -5.
The correct answer is b. −5.