Final answer:
No, Collin's equation is not correct. The correct equation to relate the distance between a point (x, y) on a left-opening parabola, the focus, and the directrix is (x+p)^2+(y−0)^2=(p−x)^2.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, Collin's equation is not correct. The correct equation to relate the distance between a point (x, y) on a parabola that opens to the left and the focus, and the distance between the point on the parabola and the directrix is (x+p)^2+(y−0)^2=(p−x)^2.
Let's break down the correct equation step by step:
- The vertex of the parabola is at (0, 0), so we have (x+p)^2+(y−0)^2 as the distance between the point and the focus.
- Similarly, the distance between the point and the directrix is p−x.
- Squaring both sides of the equation gives us (x+p)^2+(y−0)^2=(p−x)^2.
This equation accurately represents the relationship between the distances described in the question.