Question

Which is the focus of a parabola with equation y2 = 4x?

Answer 1

Answer:

(1, 0)

Step-by-step explanation:

Please write this as y^2 = 4x; the " ^ " indicates exponentiation.

The appropriate equation for a horizontal parabola that opens to the right is

y^2 = 4px

Here, we are told that  y^2 = 4x; this tells us that 4p = 4, and so p = 1.  

Again, this parabola is a horizontal one and it opens to the right.  p = 1 is the distance of the focus from the vertex, and in this case p = 1.  Thus, the focus is at (1, 0) (situated on the x-axis).