Precalculus : Determine the equation of a parabola and graph a parabola

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 :Determine The Equation Of A Parabola And Graph A Parabola

Find the focus and the directrix of the following parabola:.

Possible Answers:

Focus:

Directrix:

Focus:

Directrix:

Focus:
Directrix:

Focus:

Directrix:

Correct answer:

Focus:
Directrix:

Explanation:

To find the focus from the equation of a parabola, first set the equation to resemble the formwhererepresents any numerical value.

For our problem, it is already in this form.

Therefore,

.

Solve forthen.

The focus for this parabola is given by.

So,is the focus of the parabola.

The directrix is represented as.

Therefore, the directrix for this problem is.

Example Question #32 :Determine The Equation Of A Parabola And Graph A Parabola

Find the directerix of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a vertical parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andgives the focal length.

When, the parabola will open up.

When, the parabola will open down.

For the parabola in question, the vertex isand. This parabola will open up. Because the parabola will open up, the directerix will be locatedunits down from the vertex. The equation for the directerix is then.

Example Question #33 :Determine The Equation Of A Parabola And Graph A Parabola

Find the directerix for the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a vertical parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andgives the focal length.

When, the parabola will open up.

When, the parabola will open down.

For the parabola in question, the vertex isand. This parabola will open up. Because the parabola will open up, the directerix will be locatedunit down from the vertex. The equation for the directerix is then.

Example Question #34 :Determine The Equation Of A Parabola And Graph A Parabola

Find the directerix of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a vertical parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andgives the focal length.

When, the parabola will open up.

When, the parabola will open down.

Start by putting the equation in th estandard form of the equation of a vertical parabola.

Isolate theterms to one side.

Complete the square for theterms. Remember to add the same amount on both sides!

Factor out both sides of the equation to get the standard form of a vertical parabola.

For the parabola in question, the vertex isand. This parabola will open down. Because the parabola will open down, the directerix will be locatedunits above the vertex. The equation for the directerix is then.

Example Question #35 :Determine The Equation Of A Parabola And Graph A Parabola

Find the focus of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a vertical parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andgives the focal length.

When, the parabola will open up.

When, the parabola will open down.

Start by putting the equation into the standard form.

Isolate theterms on one side.

Complete the square. Remember to add teh same amount on both sides!

Factor both sides of the equation to get the standard equation for the parabola.

For the parabola in question, the vertex isand. This parabola will open up. Because the parabola will open up, the focus will be locatedunit up from the vertex. The focus is then located at.

Example Question #36 :Determine The Equation Of A Parabola And Graph A Parabola

Find the focus of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a vertical parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andgives the focal length.

When, the parabola will open up.

When, the parabola will open down.

For the parabola in question, the vertex isand. This parabola will open down. Because the parabola will open down, the focus will be locatedunits down from the vertex. The focus is then located at.

Example Question #51 :Parabolas

Find the focus of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a vertical parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andgives the focal length.

When, the parabola will open up.

When, the parabola will open down.

For the parabola in question, the vertex isand. This parabola will open down. Because the parabola will open down, the focus will be locatedunits down from the vertex. The focus is then located at

Example Question #52 :Parabolas

Find the directerix of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a horizontal parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andis the focal length.

When, the parabola opens to the right.

When, the parabola opens to the left.

For the given parabola, the vertex isand. This means the parabola is opening to the left and that the directerix will be locatedunit to the right of the vertex. The directerix is then.

Example Question #53 :Parabolas

Find the directerix of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a horizontal parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andis the focal length.

When, the parabola opens to the right.

When, the parabola opens to the left.

For the given parabola, the vertex isand. This means the parabola is opening to the left and that the directerix will be locatedunits to the right of the vertex. The directerix is then.

Example Question #54 :Parabolas

Find the directerix of the parabola with the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the standard form of the equation of a horizontal parabola:

, whereis the vertex of the parabola andis the focal length.

When, the parabola opens to the right.

When, the parabola opens to the left.

Put the given equation into the standard form. Start by isolating theterms to one side.

Complete the square. Remember to add the same amount to both sides of the equation.

Factor both sides of the equation to get the standard form of the equation of a horizontal parabola.

For the given parabola, the vertex isand. This means the parabola is opening to the right and that the directerix will be locatedunits to the left of the vertex. The directerix is then.

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