The vertex of this parabola is at (2, - 1). When the y-value is 0, the x-value is 5. What is the coefficient of the squared term in the parabola's equation?

The coefficient would be 1/9.

We first write this in vertex form:

y=a (x-h) ²+k, where (h, k) is the vertex. Using our vertex, we have:

y=a (x-2) ²-1

We know that the parabola goes through (5, 0), so we can use these coordinates to find the value of a:

0=a (5-2) ²-1

0=a (3) ²-1

0=9a-1

Add 1 to both sides:

0+1=9a-1+1

1=9a

Divide both sides by 9:

1/9 = 9a/9

1/9 = a

The answer is 3 (Apex)