|  | 
| 
 
 
| Question 737392:  A parabola has vertex at (4, 6) and intersect the x-axis at x = 8. Find its equation in the form of y = ax^2 + bx + c
 Answer by nerdybill(7384)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A parabola has vertex at (4, 6) and intersect the x-axis at x = 8. Find its equation in the form of y = ax^2 + bx + c .
 Vertex form of a parabola:
 y = a(x – h)^2 + k
 where
 (h,k) is the vertex
 .
 Plugging in the vertex at (4,6)
 y = a(x – 4)^2 + 6
 .
 Since it intersects the x-axis at x=8, this point is at (8,0).
 Plugging it in the the equation, we can solve for 'a':
 0 = a(8 – 4)^2 + 6
 0 = a(4)^2 + 6
 0 = a(16) + 6
 -6 = a(16)
 -6/16 = a
 -3/8 = a
 .
 Plug above back into:
 y = a(x – 4)^2 + 6
 y = (-3/8)(x – 4)^2 + 6
 .
 Now, we rearrange terms to get the desired form of:
 y = ax^2 + bx + c
 .
 y = (-3/8)(x – 4)^2 + 6
 y = (-3/8)(x – 4)(x – 4) + 6
 y = (-3/8)(x^2-8x+16) + 6
 y = (-3/8)x^2 - (-3/8)8x + (-3/8)16 + 6
 y = (-3/8)x^2 - (-3)x + (-3)2 + 6
 y = (-3/8)x^2 + 3x - 6 + 6
 y = (-3/8)x^2 + 3x  (this is what they're looking for)
 
 
 | 
  
 | 
 |  |  |