How to write the equation of a parabola in conic sections, given vertex and directrix

The video tutorial covers plotting a vertex and identifying the directrix of a parabola. It explains the orientation of a parabola relative to its directrix and introduces the formula for a vertical parabola. The tutorial also discusses calculating the value of P, which is the distance from the vertex to the focus, and concludes with understanding the distance from the vertex to the directrix.

What does the variable P represent in the context of a parabola?

How do you calculate the value of P given the distance from the vertex to the directrix?