Find the focus of the parabola y^2 = 12x.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. (3, 0)
- Step 1: Compare with standard equation y^2 = 4px for a horizontal parabola.
- Step 2: Solve for parameter p: 4p = 12, so p = 3.
- Step 3: The focus of y^2 = 4px lies at (p, 0).
- Step 4: Therefore, the focus is at (3, 0).
Answer
(3, 0).
Why not the others: '(0, 3)' is the focus of a vertical parabola x^2 = 12y; '(12, 0)' uses 4p as the focus coordinate; '(6, 0)' divides by 2 instead of 4.
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