Equations of Parabolas--Example 9

Topic

Quadratics

Description

This example shows a parabola with its focus at (2, -3) and directrix y = -4. The vertex is at (2, -3.5), and the parabola opens upward. The distance p from the vertex to the focus is -4. The directrix is a line perpendicular to the axis of symmetry and is located at a distance |p| from the vertex on the opposite side of the focus. The axis of symmetry is a line that passes through the vertex and the focus, dividing the parabola into two symmetric halves.A parabola can also be defined as the locus of points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and a fixed line (the directrix).

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