Question

The general formula of a parabola with a vertical axis is derived using the focus point and the __________ formula.

A.
circle
B.
distance
C.
point-slope
D.
slope

Answer 1

hint: look at the definition of a parabola :)

Answer 2

I did but it isn't helping

Answer 3

http://www.sparknotes.com/math/precalc/conicsections/section2.rhtml
what word do you see over and over again here?

Answer 4

So distance?

Answer 5

yep
The definition of a parabola is:
All points on the parabola (x,y) have the same distance from the focus as it does the directrix.

Answer 6

equidistant is the same as saying equivalent distance (or equal distance)

Answer 7

THANK YOU!! Know anything about this one? I can do the math for parabolas but not all the definition stuff. One of the properties of a parabola is that it can act as a reflector. In a reflector, any ray that is __________ to the axis of symmetry will be reflected off the surface to the focus.

Answer 8

@freckles ??

Answer 9

say we have y=x^2
so this parabola looks like
where x=0 is the axis of symmetry