can you check my work and explain the last question because I do not uderstand.
Explain what each of the following represents, and how y = a(x - h)2 + k, a ≠ 0 and (x - h)2 = 4p(y - k), p ≠ 0 are equivalent.
The equation (x - h)2 = 4p(y - k), p ≠ 0 is used when the parabola has a vertical axis. In this equation (h,k) represents the vertex, (h, k+p) represents the focus, and (y=k-p) represents the directrix. The axis is the line x=h. When p>0 the parabola opens upward and when p<0 it opens downward.
The equation (y - k)2 = 4p(x - h), p ≠ 0 equation is used when the parabola has a horizontal axis. In this equation (h,k) represents the vertex,( h+p,k)represents the focus, and (x=h-p) represents the directrix. The axis line is the line y=k. When p>0 the parabola opens to the right and when p<0 it opens to the left.
1 answer
(x-h)^2 = 4p(y-k)
then I don't see what the problem is with
(y-k)^2 = 4p(x-k)
Go to wolframalpha.com and type in some functions and see what happens. For example,
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=parabola+(x-3)%5E2+%3D+8(y-2)