The focus of a parabola is (3,-7) and the directrix is y = -4. What is an equation of the parabola?

  (a)  (x -3)^2 = -6(y +5.5)

Step-by-step explanation:

The equation of a parabola can be written as ...

  (x -h)^2 = 4p(y -k)

where (h, k) is the vertex, and p is the distance from the focus to the vertex.

The vertex is half-way between the focus and directrix, so is ...

  (h, k) = (1/2)((3, -7) +(3, -4)) = (3, -5.5)

The focus is at y=-7, and the vertex is at y=-5.5, so the distance between them is ...

  -7 -(-5.5) = -1.5

Then the equation for the parabola is ...

  (x -3)^2 = 4(-1.5)(y -(-5.5))

  (x -3)^2 = -6(y +5.5) . . . . matches the first choice

the answer is a

step-by-step explanation:

we have three similar triangles, because each has a right angle and shares an angle.   let's write the angles in order: opposite to short leg, long leg, hypotenuse.

cab similar to bad similar to cbd

or as ratios,

ca: ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

we also know

ac = ad + cd

(ad+cd): ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

(ad+cd)/cb=cb/cd

we have cb=6, ad=5 and seek x=cd.

we reject the negative root and conclude x=4

answer: 4