Find the equation of the parabola with two points and a slope

find the equation of parabola with given two points B (2, 1) and C (4, 3) and slope of the tangent line to the parabola matches the slope of the line goes through A (0, 1.5) and B (2, 1).

i have calculated, that the slope for the line is -1/4. is it correct?
but i have no idea what the next step should be.
Any help would be appreciated.

• Slope of the tangent line at which point? – Hirshy Jun 14 '15 at 19:56
• It seems like too much of a less information, firstly your parabola can be $(y-h)^2=4a(x-k)$ or it can be $(x-h)^2=4a(y-k)$ – Mann Jun 14 '15 at 19:56
• The slope you calculated is correct – Peter Jun 14 '15 at 19:59
• there is nothing more said. just that it is the slope of a tangent line to the parabola. – Sarah Jun 14 '15 at 19:59
• so the derivative of the parabola equation (y=ax^2+bx+c) should be equal to -1/4? 2ax+b=-1/4 ? and what will be the x here? – Sarah Jun 14 '15 at 20:02

To answer this problem, you must derive a system of linear equations to solve for the three unknowns in your parabola $f(x),$ where $$f(x)=ax^2+bx+c.$$ We know $f(2)=1=4a+2b+c$, $f(4)=3=16a+4b+c$, and $f'(\text{B})=-\frac{1}{4}=4a+b$. Thus, the system $$\begin{cases}4a+2b+c=1\\ 16a+4b+c=3\\ 4a+b=-\frac{1}{4} \end{cases}$$ is established. I will leave it up to you to solve for $f(x).$
$$y=ax^2+bx+c$$ use the two points to get $$1=4a+2b+c$$ $$3=16a+4b+c$$
I think that the tangent point at point $B$ $$y'=2ax+b$$
$$-1/4=2*a*2+b$$
solve the simultaneous equation to get $a$, $b$, and $c$