MHB Find Parabola Given Focus & Directrix - Help Needed

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To derive the equation of a parabola with a focus at (-5, -5) and a directrix of y = 7, the relationship between the focus and directrix is used. The equation is established using the distance formula, leading to the quadratic function y = -\frac{x^2 + 10x + 1}{24}. The vertex of the parabola is located at (-5, 1), with the directed distance from the vertex to the focus being -6. Consequently, the final equation of the parabola is (x + 5)^2 = -24(y - 1). This provides a complete representation of the parabola based on the given parameters.
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Here is the question:

Find the formula of this parabola?


Derive the equation of the parabola with a focus at (-5, -5) and a directrix of y = 7.

So... I've tried this one over and over but can't seem to get the right answer. Help anyone?

I have posted a link there to this topic so the OP can see my work.
 
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Hello Abs,

A parabola is defined as the locus of all points $(x,y)$ equidistant from a point (the focus) and a line (the directrix). Using the square of the distance formula, we may write:

$$(x+5)^2+(y+5)^2=(y-7)^2$$

$$x^2+10x+25+y^2+10y+25=y^2-14y+49$$

Combining like terms, we obtain:

$$x^2+10x+1+24y=0$$

Solving for $y$, we get the quadratic function:

$$y=-\frac{x^2+10x+1}{24}$$
 
Hello, Abs!

Find the equation of the parabola with focus at (-5, -5)
and directrix y = 7.
Code:
                    |
                    |7
          - - . - - + - - -
              :     |
              :V    |
              o     |
    - - - * - : - * + - - - - -
        *     :     *
       *      o     |*
              :F    |
      *       :     | *
                    |
The focus (F) is (-5,-5).
The vertex (V) is (-5,1).

The form of this parabola is: (x-h)^2 \:=\:4p(y-k)
where (h,k) is the vertex,
and p is the directed distance from V to F.

We have: (h,k) = (-5,1) and p = -6.

The equation is: .(x+5)^2 \:=\:-24(y-1)
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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