Question

The vertex of this parabola is at (-3,-1). When the y value is 0, the x value is 4. What is the coefficient of the squatted term

Answer 1

I'm assuming by the way those points lie in the coordinate plane that this is a parabola that opens to the right, a y^2 parabola.  Our x and y coordinates are (4,0), and the h and k of the vertex are (-3, -1).  The standard form for this parabola is $x=a(y-k)^2+h$.  We need to find a.  Filling in accordingly, $4=a(0+1)^2-3$.  Simplifying a bit we get 4 = a - 3.  a = 7.  The parabola, then, has the equation $x=7(y+1)^2-3$