Question

Which is an equation for the parabola that has vertex (-4,-2) and passes through the point (-1,-20)?

Answer 1

how many questions do you have omg!

Answer 2

@mml Lol :P

Answer 3

@Pamela16 you can solve it by trail and error. plug in x and y and see which equation when plugging x in both casses gives you the same y. All the best!

Answer 4

*trial

Answer 5

@mml ? Which :)

Answer 6

vertex (-4,-2)
passes through the point (-1,-20)

Unfortunately, this information is insufficient to produce a unique parabola. It requires a perusal of the answer to see what is wanted.

The equation will look like this:

(y-k) = p(x-h)^2

We know the vertex

(y+2) = p(x+4)^2

We know a point

(-20+2) = p(-1+4)^2
p = -18/9 = -2

(y+2) = -2(x+4)^2

A little algebra

y+2 = -2(x^2 + 8x + 16)
y+2 = -2x^2 - 16x - 32
y = -2x^2 - 16x - 34

It's almost always better to know how to create an equation. Practice this process and see where it all came from. One piece at a time.