Answer:
(a) (x -3)^2 = -6(y +5.5)
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation of a parabola can be written as ...
(x -h)^2 = 4p(y -k)
where (h, k) is the vertex, and p is the distance from the focus to the vertex.
The vertex is half-way between the focus and directrix, so is ...
(h, k) = (1/2)((3, -7) +(3, -4)) = (3, -5.5)
The focus is at y=-7, and the vertex is at y=-5.5, so the distance between them is ...
-7 -(-5.5) = -1.5
Then the equation for the parabola is ...
(x -3)^2 = 4(-1.5)(y -(-5.5))
(x -3)^2 = -6(y +5.5) . . . . matches the first choice
