# Math Help - Parabola problem

1. ## Parabola problem

I'm trying to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do with this:

x^2=8y.

I'm supposed to solve for vertex, focus, and directx... how do I put this into the y=ax^2+bc+c form??

2. Originally Posted by Kevin Green
I'm trying to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do with this:

x^2=8y.

I'm supposed to solve for vertex, focus, and directx... how do I put this into the y=ax^2+bc+c form?? ... divide both sides by 8 ; a = 1/8 , b = 0, c = 0
.

3. Thank you.... where do I go from here? The math book I have does a horrible job describing this whole matter.

4. Originally Posted by Kevin Green
I'm trying to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do with this:

x^2=8y.

I'm supposed to solve for vertex, focus, and directx... how do I put this into the y=ax^2+bc+c form??
Parabolas can also be expressed in this form:
$(x - h)^2 = 4p(y - k)$ or $(y - k)^2 = 4p(x - h)$.
The first is a parabola that opens upward or downward, and the second is a parabola that opens left or right. Sometimes this form is preferred because you can see what the vertex is.

$x^2=8y$