Presuming a vertical axis of symmetry, if the vertex has an -coordinate of 4, then a point 2 units to the left of the vertex will have the same function value as a point 2 units to the right of the vertex. Hence has to be on the parabola. Now that we have three non-collinear points we can uniquely determine the parabola.
A parabola with a vertical axis of symmetry has an equation of the form:
Given the point (4,3):
Given the point (6,10)
Given the point (2,10)
Solve the 3X3 linear system to obtain the desired coefficients.
John
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
