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| Question 184529:  I'm can't figure out how to create a quadratic equation out of the vertex and a point that it must pass through. All i've managed so far is some trial and error and come up with this.
 y=2(x+2)²+4
 From the vertex of (-2,4) and passing through (-1,8).
 I have been fiddling around with it and have two ideas how to proceed.
 I could change (x+2) to something else to move it along the x axis or change the first part of it to change the fatness or whichever you want to call it of the parabola.  Regardless i figure there is a better way to do it other then trial and error, if it has been answered before i'm sorry I didn't see it. I'm self taught and this is the first time I really have had any problem.
 
 -Thanks
 Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Remember, the general vertex form of an equation is  where "a" is the stretch/compression factor and (h,k) is the vertex. We know what the vertex is, but we don't know the value of "a". So the goal is to find "a". 
 
 
 Since the vertex is (-2,4), this tells us that
  and  . 
 
 
  Start with the vertex form of the equation 
 
 
  Plug in  and   
 
 
  Rewrite  as   
 
 
 Now because we want the parabola to pass through the point (-1,8), this means that when
  ,  . So we can plug in  and   
 
 
  Plug in  and  . We finally have an equation with one unknown variable 
 
 
  Subtract 4 from both sides. 
 
 
  Combine like terms. 
 
 
  Square 1 to get 1 
 
 
  Multiply 
 
 So the value of "a" is
   
 
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 Answer:
 
 This means that the equation with a vertex of (-2,4) that passes through (-1,8) is
   
 
 Here's the graph to visually verify the answer
 
 
  Graph of  with a vertex of (-2,4) that passes through the point (-1,8)
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