Find the Parabola with Focus (-4,-2) and Directrix y=3 (-4,-2) y=3

$(- 4, - 2)$ $y = 3$

Step 1

Since the directrix is vertical, use the equation of a parabola that opens up or down.

${(x - h)}^{2} = 4 p (y - k)$

Step 2

Find the vertex.

The vertex $(h, k)$ is halfway between the directrix and focus. Find the $y$ coordinate of the vertex using the formula $y = \frac{y coordinate of focus + directrix}{2}$ . The $x$ coordinate will be the same as the $x$ coordinate of the focus.

$(- 4, \frac{- 2 + 3}{2})$

Add $- 2$ and $3$ .

$(- 4, \frac{1}{2})$

Step 3

Find the distance from the focus to the vertex.

The distance from the focus to the vertex and from the vertex to the directrix is $| p |$ . Subtract the $y$ coordinate of the vertex from the $y$ coordinate of the focus to find $p$ .

$p = - 2 - \frac{1}{2}$

Simplify.

To write $- 2$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$p = - 2 \cdot \frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2}$

Combine $- 2$ and $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$p = \frac{- 2 \cdot 2}{2} - \frac{1}{2}$

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$p = \frac{- 2 \cdot 2 - 1}{2}$

Simplify the numerator.

Multiply $- 2$ by $2$ .

$p = \frac{- 4 - 1}{2}$

Subtract $1$ from $- 4$ .

$p = \frac{- 5}{2}$

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$p = - \frac{5}{2}$

Step 4

Substitute in the known values for the variables into the equation ${(x - h)}^{2} = 4 p (y - k)$ .

${(x + 4)}^{2} = 4 (- \frac{5}{2}) (y - \frac{1}{2})$

Step 5

Simplify.

${(x + 4)}^{2} = - 10 (y - \frac{1}{2})$

Step 6

Find the Parabola with Focus (-4,-2) and Directrix y=3 (-4,-2) y=3

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