Skylar is designing a flashlight that uses a parabolic reflecting mirror and a light source. The shape of the mirror can be modeled by (y+5) ^2=12 (x+2), where x and y are measured in inches. What is the focus of the flashlight?

Question

Rosemary Spencer

Mathematics

4 December, 17:28

Skylar is designing a flashlight that uses a parabolic reflecting mirror and a light source. The shape of the mirror can be modeled by (y+5) ^2=12 (x+2), where x and y are measured in inches. What is the focus of the flashlight?

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Answers (1)

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Pierce Hodges · Answer 1

From the equation of (y+5) ^2=12 (x+2), Focus is the distance (a) from the vertex (h, k). The equation is written in standard form, where 4a=12, solving for a

4a=12

a=3

The focus of the flashlight is found in 4th quadrant at the coordinates (1,-5).