The axis of symmetry is at x = -3.
This can be found by looking at the basic form of vertex form:
y = (x - h)^2 + k
In this basic form the vertex is (h, k). By looking at what is plugged into the equation, it is clear that h = -3 and k = -4. This means the vertex is at (-3, -4).
It is a fact that the axis of symmetry is a vertical line of x = (vertex value of x). So we can determine that the axis of symmetry is at x = -3
You are estimating each into whole numbers. They are already whole numbers, and so just subtract.
428,734 - 175,842 = 252892
252,892 is your answer
hope this helps
