Find the vertex focus and directrix of the parabola y2 6y
Find the vertex, focus, and directrix of the parabola. y^2 + 6y + 8x + 25 = 0
Solution
We know the generl equation of parabola is
 4p(x - h) = (y - k)²
 Here vertex= (h,k), p= distance from the vertex to the focus = The distance from the vertex to the directrix
 Given y² + 6y + 8x + 25 = 0
 => 8x + 25 = -y² - 6y
 => 8x + 25 - 9 = -(y² + 6y + 9)
 => 8x + 16 = -(y + 3)²
 => -8(x + 2) = (y + 3)²
 So, the vertex (h,k) is (-2,-3).
 The line of symmetry is a horizontal line thru the vertex.
 y = -3
 and
 4p = -8
 => p = -2
 Now since the focus is a distance | p | = 2 from the vertex along the line of symmetry. It is inside the parabola.
Hence, the focus is
 (h + p, k) = (-2 - 2, -3) = (-4, -3)
 The directrix is also a distance | p | = 2 from the vertex but in the opposite direction. It is a line perpendicular to the line of symmetry and is outside the parabola. The directrix is a vertical line with the equation:
 x = h - p = -2 + 2 = 0
 => x = 0

