What is the focus of the parabola that has a vertex at (0, 0) and that passes through the points (–3, 3) and (3, 3)?

1 Answer
Jun 27, 2016

Focus is S(0, 3/4). The equation of the parabola is x^2=3y. The size a = 3/4..

Explanation:

As #(+-3, 3) are equidistant from the y-axis, y-axis is the axis

of the parabola. O(0, 0) is the vertex. Therefore, its equation is

of the form

x^2=4ay.

This passes through (+-3, 3). 9 = 12a. So,

a = 3/4..

The focus is on the axis x = 0, at a distance a = 3/4, from

the vertex (0, 0).

Thus the focus is S(0, 3/4).