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Find the equation of a parabola with a focus at (-4, 7) and a directrix of y=1. ANSWERS ATTACHED, 15 points, due in 2 HOURS!

Find the equation of a parabola with a focus at (-4, 7) and a directrix of y=1. ANSWERS-example-1
User Otocon
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

Solution: y - 4 = 1 / 12(x + 4)² or Option B

Explanation:

Since the directrix is vertical, use the equation of a parabola that opens up or down -

(x - h)² = 4p(y - k)

Remember that the vertex, (h, k) is halfway between the directrix and focus. Therefore we can find the y coordinate of the vertex using the formula y = y coordinate of focus + directrix / 2.The x -coordinate will be the same as the x coordinate of the focus.

Vertex: (- 4, 7 + 1 / 2) = (- 4,4)

Now we can find the distance from the focus to the vertex. The distance from the vertex to the directrix is represented by | p |. We can subtract the y coordinate of the vertex from the y -coordinate of the focus to find p.

p = 7 - 4 = 3

Substitute the known values for these variables into the given equation (x - h)² = 4p(y - k) to get our solution.

(x + 4)² = 4(3)(y - 4),

(x + 4)² = 12(y - 4)

1 / 12(x + 4)² = y - 4

y - 4 = 1 / 12(x + 4)² ~ As you can see your solution is option b.

User Taylor Kidd
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