CONIC SECTIONS

Introduction
Sections of a cone
Circle
Parabola
Ellipse
Hyperbola

INTRODUCTION:
Circles, ellipses, parabolas and hyperbolas are known as Conic Sections
because they can be obtained as intersections of a plane with a double
napped right circular cone.
DOUBLE NAPPED RIGHT CIRCULAR CONE
Let l be a fixed vertical line & m be another
line intersecting it at a fixed point V &
inclined to it at an angle .Suppose we
rotate the line m around the line l in such a
way that the angle remains constant. Then
the surface generated is a double napped
right circular hollow cone herein after
referred as double napped right circular
cone.

The point V is called

Vertex; the line l is axis
of cone. The rotating
line m is called a
generator of cone. The
vertex separates the
cone into two parts is
called nappes.
CONIC SECTION FROM A
NAPPED RIGHT CIRCULAR
CONE:

If we take intersection
of a plane with a
cone, section so
obtained is called
conic section.

m
V
l

When = ,
the section is a
parabola.

When = 90, the

section is a circle.
When < <
90, the section
is a ellipse.

When 0 < ,
the plane cuts
through both
nappes & curves
of intersection is a
hyperbola.

When we throw a ball, the path

covered by the ball is parabolic.

This bridge is parabolic in

nature.

Elliptical Orbits Around the Sun

The tyre of a car is circular in

shape.

A sand clock is hyperbolic in

nature.

P1

A circle is the set of all points in a

plane that are equidistant from a
fixed point in the plane.
The fixed point is called the centre of the
circle and the distance from the centre
to a point on the circle is called the radius of
the circle.

Radius (r)

Given C (h, k) be the centre and r the radius

of circle. Let P(x, y) be any point on
the circle .Then, by the definition, | CP | = r .
By the distance formula,
we have
(x h) + (y k) = r
i.e. (x h) + (y k) = r
This is the required equation of the circle
with centre at (h,k) and radius r .

O .

centre

P3
OP1=OP2=OP3

C
. (h,k)

P2

P (x,y)

Q. Find the equation of the circle with centre (3, 2) and radius 4.
Solution: Here h = 3, k = 2 and r = 4. Therefore, the equation of the required circle is
(x + 3)+ (y 2) = 16
Q. Find the centre and the radius of the circle x + y + 8x + 10y 8 = 0.
Solution: The given equation is
(x + 8x) + (y + 10y) = 8
Now, completing the squares within the parenthesis, we get
(x + 8x + 16) + (y + 10y + 25) = 8 + 16 + 25
i.e. (x + 4) + (y + 5) = 49
i.e. {x ( 4)} + {y (5)} = 72
Therefore, the given circle has centre at ( 4, 5) and radius 7.
Q. Find equation of circle passing through points (4,1) & (6,5) & whose centre is on
the line 4x + y = 16.
Solution: (x h) + (y k) = r
(4 h) + (1 k) = r ------ (1)
(6 h) + (5 k) = r ------ (2)
4h + k = 16

------ (3)

(1) + (2) (3), we get: -4h 8k = -44

4h + k = 16
-7k = -28 k = 4 , h= 3.

(4 3) + (1- 4) = r
(4 3) + (1- 4)
r (-3) = r
(1)= +
r = 10
(1) + (-3) = r
Equation of circle: (x 3) + (y 4) = 10
r = 10

Equation of circle: (x 3) + (y 4) = 10

Q. Does point (-4,2) lie inside, outside or on the circle x + y = 25 ?

Q. Does point (-4,2) lie inside, outside or on the circle x + y = 25 ?
Solution: Distance
(-4,2)
& (0,0) (-4,2) & (0,0)
Solution:between
Distance
between

-4+- (2
0) +0)(2 = 0)
4 <=25
20 < 25
= (=-4- (0)
16 += 4 16
= +20
Thus, (-4,2) lies inside the circle.

Thus, (-4,2) lies inside the circle.

PARABOLA
A parabola is the set of all
points in a plane that are
equidistant from a fixed line
and a fixed point (not on the
line) in the plane.
The fixed line is called the
directrix of the parabola.
The fixed point F is called the
focus.
A line through the
focus and perpendicular
to the directrix is called
the axis .
The point of
intersection of parabola
with the axis is called the
vertex.

Standard equations of parabola

The equation of a parabola is simplest if the vertex is at the origin and the axis of
symmetry is along the x-axis or y-axis. Four possible options for directrix, given vertex is
at origin : ( x=a, x= -a, y = a, y = -a)
DERIVE PARABOLA FORMULA
Let F be the focus and l the directrix. Let FM be
perpendicular to the directrix and bisect FM at the
point O. Produce MO to X. Take O as origin, OX the
x-axis and OY perpendicular to it as the y-axis. Let
the distance from the directrix to the focus be 2a.
Then, the coordinates of the focus are (a, 0), and the
equation of the directrix is x + a = 0 as in Let P(x, y)
be any point on the parabola such that
PF = PN, ... (1)
where PN is perpendicular to l. The coordinates of B
are
( a, y). By the distance formula, we have
PF = (x a) + y and PB = (x + a)
Since PF = PB, we have
(x a) + y = (x + a)
i.e. (x a) + y = (x + a)
or x 2ax + a + y = x + 2ax + a
or y = 4ax ( a > 0).

vertex

latus rectum
(LL)

1. Parabola is symmetric with respect to the axis of the parabola.If the equation has a
y term, then the axis of symmetry is along the x-axis and if the
equation has an x term, then the axis of symmetry is along the y-axis.
2. When the axis of symmetry is along the x-axis the parabola opens to the
(a) right if the coefficient of x is positive,
(b) left if the coefficient of x is negative.
3. When the axis of symmetry is along the y-axis the parabola opens
(c) upwards if the coefficient of y is positive.
(d) downwards if the coefficient of y is negative.

Latus rectum of a parabola is a line segment perpendicular to the axis of the parabola,
through the focus and whose end points lie on the parabola.
To find the Length of the latus rectum of the parabola y = 4ax
By the definition of the parabola, AF = AC.
But AC = FM = 2a
Hence AF = 2a.
And since the parabola is symmetric with respect to x-axis AF = FB and so
AB = Length of the latus rectum = 4a.

Q. Find the coordinates of the focus, axis,the equation of the directrix and latus
rectum of the parabola y = 8x.
Solution: Comparing with the given equation
y = 4ax, we find that a = 2.
Thus, the focus of the parabola is (2, 0) and the
equation of the directrix of the parabola is x = 2.
Length of the latus rectum is 4a = 4 2 = 8.

Q. Find the equation of the parabola with vertex at (0, 0) and focus at (0, 2).
Solution: Since the vertex is at (0,0) and the focus is at (0,2) which lies
on y-axis, the y-axis is the axis of the parabola.
Therefore, equation of the parabola is of the form x = 4ay.
Thus, we have
x = 4(2)y, i.e., x = 8y.

ELLIPSE
An ellipse is the set of all points in a plane, the sum of whose distances from
two fixed points in the plane is a constant.The two fixed points are called the
foci (plural of focus) of the ellipse.
The mid point of the line segment
joining the foci is called the centre of
the ellipse. The line segment through
the foci of the ellipse is called the
major axis and the line segment
through the centre and perpendicular
to the major axis is called the minor
axis. The end points of the major axis
are called the vertices of the ellipse.
We denote the length of the major
axis by 2a, the length of the minor
axis by 2b and the distance between
the foci by 2c. Thus, the length of the
semi major axis is a and semi-minor
axis is b.

Take a point P at one end of the major

axis.
Sum of the distances of the point P to
the foci is F1 P + F2P = F1O + OP + F2P
(Since, F1P = F1O + OP) = c + a + a c
= 2a
Take a point Q at one end of the minor
axis. Sum of the distances from the point
Q to the foci is F1Q + F2Q = b + c +
b+ c = 2 b + c
Since both P and Q lies on the ellipse.
By the definition of ellipse, we have
2 b + c = 2a, i.e., a = b + c
or a = b + c
, i.e., c = a b.

b a

b a
a- c

b
R

F1

F2

Eccentricity
The eccentricity of an ellipse is the ratio of the
distances from the centre of the ellipse to one of
the foci and to one of the vertices of the ellipse
(eccentricity is denoted by e) i.e., e = c/a.
Let PF1+PF2 = 2a where a > 0
( x c) 2 y 2

( x c) 2 y 2 2a

( x c ) 2 y 2 2a

( x c) 2 y 2

( x c ) 2 y 2 4a 2 4a ( x c ) 2 y ( x c ) 2 y 2
( x c ) 2 y 2 4cx 4a 2

4a

a 2 ( x 2 2 xc c 2 y 2 ) c 2 x 2 2a 2 cx a 4

a 2 x 2 2a 2 xc a 2 c 2 a 2 y 2 c 2 x 2 2a 2 cx a 4
(a 2 c 2 ) x 2 a 2 y 2 a 2 (a 2 c 2 )

Let b a c
2

b 2 x 2 a 2 y 2 a 2b 2

x2
y2
2 1
2
a
b

standard equation of an ellipse

Other form of Ellipse

2

x
y
2 1
2
b
a
length of semi-major axis = a

Major axis = 2a

length of the semi-minor axis

=b
Latus
rectum
Minor axis = 2b

length of latus rectum = 2b/a.

A hyperbola is the set of all points in a plane, the difference of

whose distances from two fixed points in the plane is a constant.
The two fixed points are
called the foci of the
hyperbola. The mid-point of
the line segment joining the
foci is called the
centre of the hyperbola. The
line through the foci is called
the transverse axis and the
line through the centre and
perpendicular to the
transverse axis is called the
conjugate axis. The points at
which the hyperbola
intersects the transverse
axis are called the vertices of
the hyperbola.

Conjugate
axis

Centre
F1

F2

Vertices

Transverse
axis

Let |PF1-PF2| = 2a where a > 0

| ( x c) 2 y 2 ( x c) 2 y 2 | 2a
( x c) 2 y 2 2a ( x c) 2 y 2

( x c ) 2 y 2 4a 2 4a ( x c ) 2 y ( x c ) 2 y 2
4a ( x c) 2 y 2 4cx 4a 2

a 2 ( x 2 2 xc c 2 y 2 ) c 2 x 2 2a 2cx a 4

a 2 x 2 2a 2 xc a 2c 2 a 2 y 2 c 2 x 2 2a 2cx a 4
(c 2 a 2 ) x 2 a 2 y 2 a 2 (c 2 a 2 )

Let b 2 c 2 a 2
b 2 x 2 a 2 y 2 a 2b 2

Standard equation of
a hyperbola

x2
y2
2 1
2
a
b

length of latus rectum =

2b/a
length of the semi-transverse
axis = a
length of the semi-conjugate
axis = b

Latus
rectum
Transverse
axis

Eccentricity of hyperbola is
e = c/a
Where a is the semi- transverse
axis, b is the semi- conjugate
axis & c is distance from the
center to either focus.
Conjugate
axis

OTHER FORM OF HYPERBOLA

y
x
2 1
2
a
b