Can Geometry and Algebra Explain a Triangle's Romance with a Parabola?

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All you have to do is figure out the base and height of the triangle. Can you find where the parabola intersects the line? Are there some values of a that don't work? It might help to draw a picture as an example. Try a = 4. Also try a = -1/2.
 
okay okay wait wait...

I solve y=a(squared) and y=9*x(squared) - a --- to get two equations
Also when x=0 for the parabola, y=-a right?

Uh okay...could you tell me then what I should do?

OHHH I made a mistake in the diagram...y is not -0.3 ... y=-3
 
crouch88 said:
okay okay wait wait...

I solve y=a(squared) and y=9*x(squared) - a --- to get two equations
Also when x=0 for the parabola, y=-a right?

Uh okay...could you tell me then what I should do?

OHHH I made a mistake in the diagram...y is not -0.3 ... y=-3

Use the X2 button to do superscripts. So what did you get when you solved

y = 9x2 - a and y = a2?

Can you figure out the base of the triangle and its height?