SOLUTION: I do not understand how to do this. Please help me. The vertex of this parabola is at (1, -4). When the y-value is -5, the x-value is 4. What is the coefficient of the squared t

Question 1201025: I do not understand how to do this. Please help me.
The vertex of this parabola is at (1, -4). When the y-value is -5, the x-value is 4. What is the coefficient of the squared term in the equation of this parabola?
Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

I will assume the parabola opens upward or downward -- i.e., the equation of the parabola in vertex form is . Then, using the other given point (4,-5)...

ANSWER: -1/9

Once you get familiar with equations of parabolas, you can get that answer without doing the formal algebra.

The given point is 3 units to the right of the vertex; if the leading coefficient were 1 then the y coordinate of the second point would be 3^2=9 more than the y coordinate of the vertex.

But the y coordinate of the second point is 1 less than the y coordinate of the vertex, so the leading coefficient is -1/9.

RELATED QUESTIONS
In the equation of a parabola y = (x-5)^2 + 4, I understand the vertex is (5,4). I don't... (answered by stanbon)

The vertex of this parabola is at (1, 2). When the x-value is 0, the y-value is 0. What... (answered by josgarithmetic,Theo,MathTherapy)

I do not understand what the problem is asking me to do, or how to solve: If x+y+z=22... (answered by josmiceli)

For the function of the parabola y=2(x-4)^2 +1 I am asked to remove the parantheses and... (answered by tutorcecilia)

I have tried to do this question a a lot of time but My answer and the Graph is not... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

Determine the quadratic function f whose vertex is (1,-3) and passes through (2,-1).... (answered by lwsshak3)

Please help me!! I do not understand how to do this question! The equation of he... (answered by mananth)

Direct and Indirect Variation. I do not understand how to solve this or any problems such (answered by richwmiller,nerdybill,MathTherapy)

The sum of the real numbers x and y is 11. Their difference is 5. what is the value of... (answered by checkley75)