Question

A parabolic dish is positioned with its receiver 3 feet from the vertex. Write an equation for the parabolic cross-section shown if the vertex is located at the origin.

Answer 1

The equation for the parabolic cross-section shown is y = a(x - 3)^2.

Step-by-step explanation:

To write an equation for the parabolic cross-section shown, we can use the general equation for a parabola in vertex form: y = a(x - h)² + k, where (h, k) represents the vertex of the parabola.

Since the vertex is located at the origin, the equation becomes: y = ax².

We are given that the receiver is located 3 feet from the vertex, so we can shift the parabola 3 feet to the right: y = a(x - 3)². This is the equation for the parabolic cross-section shown.