Question

What is the value of p in the equation y2 = -12x?

Answer 1

The given equation is

$y^2=-12x$

Recall that the general equation of the parabola is

$y^2=4px$

The given equation can be written as follows:

$y^2=4(-3)x$

Comparing this equation with general equation, we get p=-3

Hence the value of p is -3.