Thread: Determine an equation for this parabola

A graph of a parabola has a line of symmetry X=3 and contains the points (1,0) and (4,-3) Determine an equation for this parabola.

using y=a(X-h)^2+K

-3 = a(4-1)^2 + 0
-3 = -1/3(4-1)^2 + 0

did i work this correctly?
thanks

Originally Posted by Såxon

A graph of a parabola has a line of symmetry X=3 and contains the points (1,0) and (4,-3) Determine an equation for this parabola.

using y=a(X-h)^2+K

-3 = a(4-1)^2 + 0
-3 = -1/3(4-1)^2 + 0

did i work this correctly?
thanks

um, no

our parabola is of the form

since is on the graph, we have

.................(1)

since is on the graph, we have

................(2)


thus we have two simultaneous equations with two unknowns. solve this system to find your parabola