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View Full Version : How do you find the vertex, focus, and directrix of parabolas?


cmy89
Aug 11, 2008, 09:14 PM
I don't really understand this concept, so thorough examples would be much appreciated. :D

1. y^2=8x


2. x^2 + 8y + 16 = 0

... and
Find an equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.
3. Focus (0,1), directrix y = 7

Thanks!

galactus
Aug 12, 2008, 02:26 PM
Find an equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.
3. Focus (0,1), directrix y = 7

Thanks!

The vertex of the parabola is halfway between the directrix and the focus.

So, the vertex is at (0,4)

The parabola opens down.

p is the distance (absolute value because distance is always positive) between the focus and the vertex and between the vertex and the directrix.

Therefore, p=3 because 7-4=3 and 4-1=3.

So, we have (y-k)^{2}=4p(x-h)

(y-4)^{2}=4p(x-0)

(y-4)^{2}=7x

y^{2}-8y-7x+16=0

galactus
Aug 14, 2008, 07:55 AM
1. y^{2}=8x

|p| is the distance from the focus to the vertex and also the distance from the vertex to the

directrix. This one is of the form x=a\cdot y^{2}.

We can use

y^{2}=4px

or x=\frac{1}{4p}y^{2}

In this case, x=\frac{1}{8}y^{2}

a=\frac{1}{8}

Since a=\frac{1}{4p}, then p=2.

The vertex is at the origin and it opens to the right, so it has focus 2 units to the right of

the origin, F(2,0) and

directrix 2 units to the left of the origin at x=-2



2. x^{2} + 8y + 16 = 0

Can you do this one? Remember, you have the form: (x-h)^{2}=4p(y-k)

From your given equation, can you see what V(h,k) and p are?

I don't know if this matters or not. Have you even read, or even care about, anything I have posted to help you along? I posted the solutions to two of them so you would have an example to work from for other problems.

joele12
Jun 17, 2011, 06:30 AM
if your problem is x^2=8y what is your p vaule.

Unknown008
Jun 17, 2011, 07:38 AM
Put it in the form that galactus gave.

x^2 = 8y

(x-h)^2 = 4p(y-k)

So, you see clearly that h = 0. And if you expand;

4p(y-k) = 4py - 4pk

So, you see again that p = 2 and k = 0

junemarie15
Nov 28, 2011, 02:15 PM
equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.Focus (6, 0), directrix x = 5

ebaines
Nov 28, 2011, 02:52 PM
equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.Focus (6, 0), directrix x = 5

Please do not double post questions. See:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/mathematics/find-equation-parabola-satisfies-given-conditions-615388.html

maribel95
May 20, 2012, 07:11 PM
what is the directrix and focus of y=x^2 and of x=(1/36) y^2?

ebaines
May 21, 2012, 10:14 AM
For each of these first put the equation into standard form - either


y-y_1 = \frac 1 {4p} (x-x_1)^2


or


x-x_1 = \frac 1 {4p} (y-y_1)^2


Once you have this the vertex is at (x_1, y_1), and the focus is a distance 'p' towards the "inside" of the parabola, and the directrix is a line that us distance 'p' from the cvertex towards the outside.

I'll do an example for you: consider


y = \frac 1 {12} (x-2)^2


The vertex is at (2,0), The value of 'p' is 3 (since 1/(4*3) = 1/12), and hence the focus is at (2,3). The directrix is a horizontal line a distance 3 below the vertex, or at y= -3.

Hope this helps!

Teresaw3
Jun 19, 2012, 08:25 PM
What is the directrix of (y-(-2))^2=3(x-(-1))? I do not understand how to find the answer for this please help!