The vertex of this parabola is at (-2,-3). when the y-value is -2,the x-value is -5. what is the coefficient of the squared expression in the parabola's equation?

tell you what. i'll find the length of the medians and you can fill in the blanks where they belong.

br

b = (2a,0)

r = (a/2,b/2) remember these things are medians. they go to the 1/2 way point of the line opposite the vertex they face.

br^2 =   (2a - a/2)^2 + (0 - b/2)^2

br^2 = (3/2 a) ^2 + b^2 / 4

br^2 = 9/4 a^2 + b^2 / 4   we need to find some relationship between a and b.

let's try ab = bc  

ab = 2a

bc = (2a - a)^2 + (b - 0)^2

bc = sqrt(a^2 + b^2)

ab = bc

2a = sqrt(a^2 + b^2) square both sides.

4a^2 = a^2 + b^2 subtract a^2 from both sides.

sqrt(3a^2) = sqrt(b^2)

sqrt(3)a = b

let's put b into br^2

br^2 = 9/4 a^2 + 3b^2 / 4

br^2 = 12 a^2 / 4

br^2 = 3a^2 

br = sqrt(3) * a

cp

c = (a,b) ; p = (a,0) this is another application of the distance formula, and it is a good one.

cp^2 = (a - a)^2 + (b - 0)^2

cp^2 = 0 + b^2

cp^2 = b^2 which you can see from the diagram. 

cp = sqrt(b^2)

cp = b but b = sqrt(3) * a 

cp = sqrt(3)*a

aq

a = (0,0)

q = (3/2) a, b/2

aq^2 = (3a/2 -0)^2 + (b/2 - 0)^2

aq^2 = 9a^2/4 + b^2/4

but b = sqrt(3) * a 

aq^2 = 9a^2 / 4 + (sqrt(3)*a)^2 /4

aq^2 = 9 a^2/ 4 + 3 a^2 / 4

aq^2 = 12 a^2/4

aq^2 = 3 a^2

aq = (sqrt  3) * a which agrees with the other two.