If a parabola's focus is at (3, - 5) and the directrix is at y = 1, what is the vertex form of the equation representing this parabola?

(x - h) ² = 4p (y - k) is the focus-directrix form, where the focus is (h, k+p), and the directrix is y=k-p, The vertex of this parabola is at (h, k).

h=3, k+p=-5, k-p=1, so k=-2, p=-3

so (x-3) ²=-12 (y+2) is the answer.