College Algebra CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is the vertex of the parabola y = (x – 2)^2 + 4?

1. (2,4)

2. (2,6)

3. (3,4)

4. (3,6)

The correct answer is: (2,4)

The vertex of a parabola is the point where the parabola reaches its maximum or minimum value. In this case, the equation is already in vertex form, which is y = (x - h)^2 + k, where (h,k) represents the coordinates of the vertex. Comparing this format to the given equation, we can see that the vertex is at (h,k) = (2,4). This means that the parabola shifts 2 units to the right and 4 units up from the origin. The other options are incorrect because they either have the wrong x-coordinate for the vertex, or the wrong y-coordinate. For example, (2,6) is incorrect because the y-coordinate should be 4, and (3,6) is incorrect because the x-coordinate should be 2. Therefore, the correct answer is (2,4).