Identify the vertex and axis of symmetry of the parabola with the given points (0, 50), (-20, 50), and (-10, 0)

1 answer

To identify the vertex and axis of symmetry of the parabola defined by the points (0, 50), (-20, 50), and (-10, 0), we can follow these steps:

  1. Determine the shape of the parabola: We note two points on the parabola, (0, 50) and (-20, 50), both of which have the same \(y\) value. This indicates that these points are symmetrical about the axis of symmetry. The third point (-10, 0) is the lowest point if the parabola opens upward or the highest if it opens downward, but we will confirm this based on the minimum \(y\) value.

  2. Finding the axis of symmetry: The axis of symmetry will be midway between the points (0, 50) and (-20, 50). The \(x\) coordinate of the axis can be found as follows:

    \[ x = \frac{-20 + 0}{2} = -10 \]

    Thus, the axis of symmetry is \(x = -10\).

  3. Identifying the vertex: Since (-10, 0) is a point on the parabola and is directly on the axis of symmetry we determined, this point is also the vertex of the parabola.

So, we have:

  • Vertex: \((-10, 0)\)
  • Axis of Symmetry: \(x = -10\)

In conclusion, the vertex of the parabola is (-10, 0), and its axis of symmetry is \(x = -10\).