Question

A parabola with vertex (h, k) and a vertical axis of symmetry is modeled by the equation y - k = a(x - h)2. Determine the vertex for a parabola modeled by y - 4 = 1 2 (x + 1)2.

Answer 1

Answer: (-1, 4) is the vertex of the parabola.

To find the vertex when you are given the equation in vertex form, all you have to do is look at the letters k and h. They will tell you what the vertex is.
It is always (h, k)

There is only one trick in this problem. You have to change "(x + 1)" to "(x - (-1))" since the format of the equation requires "(x - h)".

This makes the h value -1 instead of 1.