Since the parabola passes by the center its equation is:
y = ax². But it opens downward, that means the coefficient a is negative.
Then the equation becomes:
y = - ax², with x = 0 as its axis of symmetry.
We are given that the height is 84 ft when the opening downward is 42 ft.
That means to the (height) y, corresponds x =+21 & x=-21 (due to symmetry).
In order to calculate a let's plug y & x with their related values:
y = - ax²
84 = - a(21)²
84 = - a(441) and a = - 84/441 ↔ a = - 4/21
And the final equation is : y = -4/21. x²
