Precalculus Examples

${(x - 2)}^{2} - 1$

Step 1

Write ${(x - 2)}^{2} - 1$ as an equation.

$y = {(x - 2)}^{2} - 1$

Step 2

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

$a = 1$

$h = 2$

$k = - 1$

Step 3

Since the value of $a$ is positive, the parabola opens up.

Opens Up

Step 4

Find the vertex $(h, k)$ .

$(2, - 1)$

Step 5

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

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Step 5.1

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

$\frac{1}{4 a}$

Step 5.2

Substitute the value of $a$ into the formula.

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

Step 5.3

Cancel the common factor of $1$ .

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Step 5.3.1

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 5.3.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{1}{4}$

Step 6

Find the focus.

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Step 6.1

The focus of a parabola can be found by adding $p$ to the y-coordinate $k$ if the parabola opens up or down.

$(h, k + p)$

Step 6.2

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

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

Step 7

Find the axis of symmetry by finding the line that passes through the vertex and the focus.

$x = 2$

Step 8