Max build a skateboarding ramp that is 15 inches high. The angle formed by the ramp and the ground is 26o. What is the length of the ramp (the part you would skate on)?

if the eqn of the parabola is f(x) = (x-4)(x+2), we need to mult. this out to find the coordinates of the vertex.

then f(x) = x^2 + 2x - 4x - 8, and f(x) = x^2 - 2x - 8.

one way in which you can find the vertex is to calculate x = -b / (2a).   here, that comes to

        )

x = = 1.   f(1) = 1^2 - 2(1) - 8 = - 9.   vertex is at (1, -9).

        2(1) 

find another point on the curve:   let x=0, for which y=-8.   then (0, -8) is on the curve.   plot the vertex and this point and draw a smooth parabola thru both.

hope this