I need like step through step ways to write an equation for a parabola.
So like here are two examples we can use:
Focus(1,4) Directrix: y=2
Focus(-2,-6) Latus Rectum=8
There's a lot of information about parabolas here:
Parabola - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The basic equations for parabolas are
^2=4p(y-k))
(parabola's axis parallel to y-axis)
or
^2=4p(x-h))
(parabola's axis parallel to x-axis)
The vertex is (x,k); the focus is (h, k+p); the directrix is y=k-p where p is the distance from the vertex to the focus.
In your first case, you have Focus(1,4) Directrix: y=2
h = 1
k+p=4
k-p=2
so k=3 and p=1
From the directrix, y=2, the parabola's axis is parallel to the y-axis.
^2=4p(y-k))
(parabola's axis parallel to y-axis)
You can multiply it out
You should work on the second problem. The Wikipedia article has information on it.