document.write( "Question 715317: I basically have a general question. I am trying to use information provided to write the transformational equation of each parabola. I am given the vertex and focus and the vertex and directrix. I know how to find p but I do not where to put it and when the x is squared vs the y being squared. I guess I need the rules?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example: Vertex: (-7,-8) Focus: (47/8,8)
\n" ); document.write( "Knowing that the Vertex is (h,k)...
\n" ); document.write( "I take the absolute value of 6-(47/8)=(1/8)... (1/8) is the value of p
\n" ); document.write( "4*(1/8)= .5
\n" ); document.write( "After that I am lost...
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Algebra.Com's Answer #439377 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I basically have a general question. I am trying to use information provided to write the transformational equation of each parabola. I am given the vertex and focus and the vertex and directrix. I know how to find p but I do not where to put it and when the x is squared vs the y being squared. I guess I need the rules?
\n" ); document.write( "Example: Vertex: (6,8) Focus: (47/8,8)
\n" ); document.write( "Knowing that the Vertex is (h,k)...
\n" ); document.write( "I take the absolute value of 6-(47/8)=(1/8)... (1/8) is the value of p
\n" ); document.write( "4*(1/8)= .5
\n" ); document.write( "--------
\n" ); document.write( "--------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Rules:
\n" ); document.write( "In the form 4p(y-k) = (x-h)^2 the vertex is (h,k)
\n" ); document.write( "If \"4p\" is positive the parabola opens up.
\n" ); document.write( "If \"4p\" is negative the parabola opens down.
\n" ); document.write( "----
\n" ); document.write( "\"P\" is the distance from the vertex to the focus
\n" ); document.write( "AND
\n" ); document.write( "\"p\" is the distance from the vertex to the directrix.
\n" ); document.write( "-----
\n" ); document.write( "In the form 4p(x-h) = (y-k)^2 the vertex is (h,k)
\n" ); document.write( "If \"4p\" is positive the parabola opens to the right
\n" ); document.write( "If \"4p\" is negative the parabola opens to the left.
\n" ); document.write( "--------------
\n" ); document.write( "Your Problem:
\n" ); document.write( "Vertex at (6,8) so h = 6 and k = 8
\n" ); document.write( "p = 1/8, so 4p = 1/2
\n" ); document.write( "------
\n" ); document.write( "Since the vertex and the focus have the same y-value
\n" ); document.write( "the axis of symmetry is a y-line, or is horizontal.
\n" ); document.write( "Note: Notice that the focus is 1/8 to the left of the vertex,
\n" ); document.write( "so your parabola must be opening to the left.
\n" ); document.write( "Since the focus is to the left of the vertex, p is negative,
\n" ); document.write( "so 4p is negative.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-1/2)(x-6) = (y-8)^2
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\n" ); document.write( "The directrix is |p| to the right the vertex:
\n" ); document.write( "x = 6 1/8
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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