Describe the key features of the parabola y2 = 8x.

Answer:

The parabola y^2 = 8x is in the form y^2 = 4px, where 4p = 8, so p = 2. Since p > 0 and the equation is in terms of y^2, the parabola opens to the right. The vertex is at the origin (0, 0). The focus is at (p, 0), which is (2, 0). The directrix is the vertical line x = -p, which is x = -2. The axis of symmetry is the x-axis, or y = 0.