Conic Sections

Topics:
• Parabolas
• Ellipses
• Hyperbolas

Calculus
De La Salle University
Conic Section
GENERAL FORM OF QUADRATIC EQUATION
A quadratic equation in two variables is
defined as
Ax  Bxy  Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2 2

where x and y are variables and A, B, … F

are constants.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Conic Section
GRAPH OF A QUADRATIC EQUATION
Given a quadratic equation
Ax  Bxy  Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2 2

the graph is either a parabola, an ellipse or

a hyperbola. For special cases it can be an
empty set, a point or intersecting lines.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
PARABOLA
A parabola is the set of all points in a plane
equidistant from a fixed point and a fixed
line. The fixed point is called the focus while
the fixed line is called the directrix.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
axis
focus
parabola

latus rectum
vertex
directrix

Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
EQUATION OF A PARABOLA
An equation of the parabola having its focus
at the point (0,p) and having as its directrix
the line y = –p is
x 2  4 py

Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
EQUATION OF A PARABOLA
An equation of the parabola having its focus
at the point (p,0) and having as its directrix
the line x = –p is
y 2  4 px

Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
Example:
Sketch the graph of the given parabola.
Indicate its vertex, axis, focus, equation of
directrix, and endpoints of latus rectum.
1. x  8 y
2

2. y  12 y
2

3. Focus at (0,-1/2); directrix: 2 y  1  0

4. Vertex at origin, opening upward thru (-4,-2)
Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
PARABOLA IN STANDARD FORM
An equation of the parabola with a vertical
axis having its vertex at the point (h,k) and p
as the directed distance from the vertex to
the focus is
( x  h) 2  4 p ( y  k )

Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
PARABOLA IN STANDARD FORM
An equation of the parabola with a
horizontal axis having its vertex at the point
(h,k) and p as the directed distance from the
vertex to the focus is
( y  k ) 2  4 p ( x  h)

Calculus
De La Salle University
Parabolas
Example:
Sketch the graph of the given parabola.
Indicate its vertex, axis, focus, equation of
directrix, and endpoints of latus rectum.
1. y   14 x 2  x  6
2. 2 x  1  y  6 y
2

3. Focus at (1,-4); directrix: x - axis

4. Vertex at (-3,2), opening rightward thru (-2,3)
Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
ELLIPSE
An ellipse is the set of points in a plane the
sum of whose distance from two fixed points
is a constant. Each fixed points is called a
focus.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
minor axis

major axis

focus
vertices center

Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
EQUATION OF AN ELLIPSE
If 2a is the constant sum referred to in the
definition of an ellipse and the foci are at
(c,0) and (-c,0), then the equation of the
ellipse is
x2 y 2
2
 2 1
a b
where b2 = a2 – c2.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
EQUATION OF AN ELLIPSE
If an ellipse has its foci at (0,c) and (0,-c),
then the equation of the ellipse is
y 2 x2
2
 2 1
a b
where b2 = a2 – c2.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
Example:
Sketch the graph of the given ellipse. Indicate
its vertices, center, foci and endpoints of the
minor axis.
x2 y 2
1.  1
25 16
x2 y2
2.  1
144 169

Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
ELLIPSE IN STANDARD FORM
If the center of an ellipse is at (h,k) and the
distance between the two vertices is 2a,
then the equation of an ellipse is of the form
( x  h) 2 ( y  k ) 2
2
 2
 1 (horizontal major axis)
a b
( y  k ) ( x  h)
2 2

2
 2
 1 (vertical major axis)
a b
Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
Example:
Sketch the graph of the given ellipse. Indicate
its vertices, center, foci and endpoints of the
major and minor axis.
1. 25 x 2  16 y 2  150 x  128 y  1119  0
2. 9 x  25 y  36 x  150 y  36  0
2 2

3. 6 x 2  9 y 2  24 x  54 y  115  0
4. 6 x 2  9 y 2  24 x  54 y  105  0
Calculus
De La Salle University
Ellipses
Example:
Find the equation of an ellipse in general form
having the given properties then sketch its
graph.
1. Vertices at (-5/2,0) and (5/2,0) and a focus at
(3/2,0).
2. Foci at (-1,-1) and (-1,7) and a minor axis of
length 8 units.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
HYPERBOLA
A hyperbola is the set of points in a plane,
the absolute value of the difference of
whose distances from two fixed points is a
constant. Each of the fixed points is called a
focus.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
asymptote
auxiliary rectangle
conjugate axis
transverse axis
center
foci
vertices

Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
EQUATION OF A HYPERBOLA
If 2a is the constant referred to in the
definition of an hyperbola and the foci are
at (c,0) and (-c,0), then the equation of the
hyperbola is
x2 y 2
2
 2 1
a b
where b2 = c2 – a2.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
EQUATION OF A HYPERBOLA
If a hyperbola has its foci at (0,c) and (0,-c),
then the equation of the hyperbola is
y 2 x2
2
 2 1
a b
where b2 = c2 – a2.

Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
Example:
Sketch the graph of the given hyperbola.
Indicate its vertices, center, foci auxiliary
rectangle and equation of the asymptotes.
x2 y 2
1.  1
16 9
y 2 x2
2.  1
4 9

Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
HYPERBOLA IN STANDARD FORM
If the center of a hyperbola is at (h,k) and
the distance between the two vertices is 2a,
then its equation is of the form
( x  h) 2 ( y  k ) 2
2
 2
 1 (horizontal transverse
a b axis)
( y  k ) ( x  h)
2 2

2
 2
 1 (vertical transverse
a b axis)
Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
Example:
Sketch the graph of the given hyperbola.
Indicate its vertices, center, foci auxiliary
rectangle and equation of the asymptotes.
1. 9 x  4 y  18 x  16 y  29  0
2 2

2.  6 x  9 y  24 x  54 y  57  0
2 2

Calculus
De La Salle University
Hyperbolas
Example:
Find the equation of a hyperbola in general
form having the given properties then sketch
its graph.
1. Vertices at (-5,-3) and (-5,-1) and the endpoints
of the conjugate axis at (-7,-2) and (-3,-2).
2. Center at (3,-5), a vertex at (7,-5) and a focus
at (8,-5)

Calculus
De La Salle University