To find the equation of the parabola in vertex form, we start with the general vertex form of a parabola, which is:
\[ f(x) = a(x - h)^2 + k \]
where \((h, k)\) is the vertex of the parabola. Given the vertex \((4, 6)\), we have \(h = 4\) and \(k = 6\). Thus, we can write:
\[ f(x) = a(x - 4)^2 + 6 \]
Next, we need to determine the value of \(a\). To do this, we'll use the x-intercept provided, which is \((1, 0)\). This means that when \(x = 1\), \(f(x) = 0\). We can substitute these values into the equation to solve for \(a\):
\[ 0 = a(1 - 4)^2 + 6 \]
Calculating \(1 - 4\):
\[ 1 - 4 = -3 \]
Now substituting:
\[ 0 = a(-3)^2 + 6 \]
Simplifying \((-3)^2 = 9\):
\[ 0 = 9a + 6 \]
Next, we isolate \(a\):
\[ 9a = -6 \]
Dividing both sides by 9 gives:
\[ a = -\frac{2}{3} \]
Now, substituting \(a\) back into our vertex form equation:
\[ f(x) = -\frac{2}{3}(x - 4)^2 + 6 \]
Thus, the equation of the parabola in vertex form is:
\[ f(x) = -\frac{2}{3}(x - 4)^2 + 6 \]