Algebra Examples

$y = \frac{1}{2} x^{2} + 6 x + 24$

Step 1

Rewrite the equation in vertex form.

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Step 1.1

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $x^{2}$ .

$y = \frac{x^{2}}{2} + 6 x + 24$

Step 1.2

Complete the square for $\frac{x^{2}}{2} + 6 x + 24$ .

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Step 1.2.1

Use the form $a x^{2} + b x + c$ , to find the values of $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ .

$a = \frac{1}{2}$

$b = 6$

$c = 24$

Step 1.2.2

Consider the vertex form of a parabola.

$a {(x + d)}^{2} + e$

Step 1.2.3

Find the value of $d$ using the formula $d = \frac{b}{2 a}$ .

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Step 1.2.3.1

Substitute the values of $a$ and $b$ into the formula $d = \frac{b}{2 a}$ .

$d = \frac{6}{2 (\frac{1}{2})}$

Step 1.2.3.2

Simplify the right side.

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Step 1.2.3.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $6$ and $2$ .

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Step 1.2.3.2.1.1

Factor $2$ out of $6$ .

$d = \frac{2 \cdot 3}{2 (\frac{1}{2})}$

Step 1.2.3.2.1.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 1.2.3.2.1.2.1

Cancel the common factor.

$d = \frac{2 \cdot 3}{2 (\frac{1}{2})}$

Step 1.2.3.2.1.2.2

Rewrite the expression.

$d = \frac{3}{\frac{1}{2}}$

Step 1.2.3.2.2

Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.

$d = 3 \cdot 2$

Step 1.2.3.2.3

Multiply $3$ by $2$ .

$d = 6$

Step 1.2.4

Find the value of $e$ using the formula $e = c - \frac{b^{2}}{4 a}$ .

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Step 1.2.4.1

Substitute the values of $c$ , $b$ and $a$ into the formula $e = c - \frac{b^{2}}{4 a}$ .

$e = 24 - \frac{6^{2}}{4 (\frac{1}{2})}$

Step 1.2.4.2

Simplify the right side.

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Step 1.2.4.2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 1.2.4.2.1.1

Raise $6$ to the power of $2$ .

$e = 24 - \frac{36}{4 (\frac{1}{2})}$

Step 1.2.4.2.1.2

Combine $4$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ .

$e = 24 - \frac{36}{\frac{4}{2}}$

Step 1.2.4.2.1.3

Divide $4$ by $2$ .

$e = 24 - \frac{36}{2}$

Step 1.2.4.2.1.4

Divide $36$ by $2$ .

$e = 24 - 1 \cdot 18$

Step 1.2.4.2.1.5

Multiply $- 1$ by $18$ .

$e = 24 - 18$

Step 1.2.4.2.2

Subtract $18$ from $24$ .

$e = 6$

Step 1.2.5

Substitute the values of $a$ , $d$ , and $e$ into the vertex form $\frac{1}{2} {(x + 6)}^{2} + 6$ .

$\frac{1}{2} {(x + 6)}^{2} + 6$

Step 1.3

Set $y$ equal to the new right side.

$y = \frac{1}{2} \cdot {(x + 6)}^{2} + 6$

Step 2

Use the vertex form, $y = a {(x - h)}^{2} + k$ , to determine the values of $a$ , $h$ , and $k$ .

$a = \frac{1}{2}$

$h = - 6$

$k = 6$

Step 3

Find the vertex $(h, k)$ .

$(- 6, 6)$

Step 4

Find $p$ , the distance from the vertex to the focus.

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Step 4.1

Find the distance from the vertex to a focus of the parabola by using the following formula.

$\frac{1}{4 a}$

Step 4.2

Substitute the value of $a$ into the formula.

$\frac{1}{4 \cdot \frac{1}{2}}$

Step 4.3

Simplify.

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Step 4.3.1

Combine $4$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{\frac{4}{2}}$

Step 4.3.2

Divide $4$ by $2$ .

$\frac{1}{2}$

Step 5

Find the directrix.

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Step 5.1

The directrix of a parabola is the horizontal line found by subtracting $p$ from the y-coordinate $k$ of the vertex if the parabola opens up or down.

$y = k - p$

Step 5.2

Substitute the known values of $p$ and $k$ into the formula and simplify.

$y = \frac{11}{2}$

Step 6