Question

A parabola can be drawn given a focus of (-11, -2) and a directrix of x= -3

Write the equation of the parabola in any form.

Answer 1

Check the picture below, so the parabola looks more or less like that.

now, the vertex is half-way between the focus point and the directrix, so that puts it where you see it in the picture, and the horizontal parabola is opening to the left-hand-side, meaning that the distance "P" is negative.

`\textit{horizontal parabola vertex form with focus point distance} \\\\ 4p(x- h)=(y- k)^2 \qquad \begin{cases} \stackrel{vertex}{(h,k)}\qquad \stackrel{focus~point}{(h+p,k)}\qquad \stackrel{directrix}{x=h-p}\\\\ p=\textit{distance from vertex to }\\ \qquad \textit{ focus or directrix}\\\\ \stackrel{`

`\begin{cases} h=-7\\ k=-2\\ p=-4 \end{cases}\implies 4(-4)[x-(-7)]~~ = ~~[y-(-2)]^2 \\\\\\ -16(x+7)=(y+2)^2\implies x+7=-\cfrac{(y+2)^2}{16}\implies x=-\cfrac{1}{16}(y+2)^2-7`