Consider the following four parabolas drawn on the same set of axes and to the same scale:
MATHEMATICS · Multi-part · AP · AP Precalculus · Functions with Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices · Functions with Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices
Problem
Consider the following four parabolas drawn on the same set of axes and to the same scale:
(i) Find the length of the latus rectum for each parabola.
(ii) Arrange the four parabolas in order of increasing openness (width), clearly indicating which is the widest and which is the narrowest.
(iii) Explain briefly why the negative sign in the equation of parabola (D) affects its direction of opening but not its width.