Parabolas
Parabolas
Example 1
Graph the parabola below. State which direction the parabola opens and determine its vertex, focus, directrix, and axis of symmetry.
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![ParabolasEx1-1 ParabolasEx1-1](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/975/mod_book/chapter/466/Conic_Sections/images/ParabolasEx1-1.png)
Step 1 . Identify the direction of opening, vertex, focus, directrix and the axis of symmetry. This is a parabola that opens to the left because a < 0.
Vertex: (-3, -2)
Focus:
![ParabolasEx1-2 ParabolasEx1-2](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/975/mod_book/chapter/466/Conic_Sections/images/ParabolasEx1-2.png)
Equation of directrix:
![ParabolasEx1-3 ParabolasEx1-3](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/975/mod_book/chapter/466/Conic_Sections/images/ParabolasEx1-3.png)
Axis of symmetry: ![ParabolasEx1-4 ParabolasEx1-4](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/975/mod_book/chapter/466/Conic_Sections/images/ParabolasEx1-4.png)
![ParabolasEx1-4 ParabolasEx1-4](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/975/mod_book/chapter/466/Conic_Sections/images/ParabolasEx1-4.png)
Step 2. Graph the conic.
![ParabolasEx1-5 ParabolasEx1-5](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/975/mod_book/chapter/466/Conic_Sections/images/ParabolasEx1-5.png)
![ParabolasEx1-5 ParabolasEx1-5](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/975/mod_book/chapter/466/Conic_Sections/images/ParabolasEx1-5.png)