Question

Answer the following:

Find the Cartesian coordinates of the point on the parabola y² = 12x whose parameter is −3

Answer 1

The equation of the parabola is y² = 12x.

Comparing with y² = 4ax, we get,

4a = 12

∴ a = 3

The point with parameter t is

P(t) ≡ (at², 2at)

P(– 3) = (3 × 9, 2 × 3 × (– 3))

= (27, –18)