How do you find the standard form of the equation of the parabola with the given characteristic and vertex at the origin and Focus: (0, −5)?

1 Answer
Jan 7, 2017

The equation is x^2=-20yx2=20y

Explanation:

The vertex is V=(0,0)V=(0,0)

The focus is F=(0,-5)=(0,-p/2)F=(0,5)=(0,p2)

So the directrix is y=5y=5

Therefore,

p=10p=10

Any point on the parabola is equidistant from the focus and the directrix

(5-y)=sqrt(x^2+(y+5)^2)(5y)=x2+(y+5)2

cancel25+cancely^2-10y=x^2+cancely^2+10y+cancel25

The equation of the parabola is

x^2=-20y

graph{(x^2+20y)(y-5)((x)^2+(y+5)^2-0.01)=0 [-12.66, 12.65, -6.33, 6.33]}