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MATH 110 – analytic geometry

Conics
The graph of a second-degree equation in the coordinates x and y is called a conic section

or, more simply, a conic. This designation derives from the fact that the curve can be obtained as the
intersection of a right circular cone and a plane.

The general quadratic equation in the

equation in x and y may be expressed in the

form

Ax2  Bxy  Cy2  Dx  Ey  F  0

The Greek mathematician Apollonius (262 BC – 200 BC) wrote the definitive treatise Conic
Sections on this subject. It superseded the works of earlier Greek geometers and formed the
cornerstone of thought on the subject for well over a thousand years. Indeed, eighteen centuries
passed before Descartes wrote his La Géométrie.

The Parabola
A parabola is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point and a fixed
line of the plane. The fixed point is called the focus and the fixed line is called the directrix.

Elements of Parabola
 Focus – point located at distance a from the vertex in the direction of parabola’s opening.

 Directrix – a straight line located at distance a from the vertex and at the opposite side of the
parabola’s opening.

 Vertex – the point extremity of parabola, i.e. highest point for parabolas opening downward,
lowest point for parabolas opening upward, rightmost point for parabolas opening leftward, and
leftmost point for parabolas opening
rightward. The coordinates of the vertex
is denoted by (h, k ).

 Axis – the line of symmetry of parabola.

It contains bothe the focus and the
vertex and always perpendicular to the
directrix.

 Latus Rectum – denoted by LR , is a

line perpendicular to the axis, passing through the focus and terminates on the parabola itself.

 Eccentricity – a measure of how much a conic deviate from being circular, making the
eccentricity of the circle obviously equal to zero. It is the ration of focal distance to directix
distance of the conic section. The eccentricity of parabola is always 1 (e  1). Thus, parabola
can also be defined as a conic section of eccentricity 1.

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Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
http://www.mathalino.com
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Although points of a parabola can be located by a direct application of the definition of a

parabola, it is easier to obtain them from an equation of the curve. The simplest equation of a parabola
can be written if the coordinate axes are placed in special position relative to the directrix and focus. Let
the x - axis be on the line through the focus and perpendicular to the directrix and let the vertex be on
the origin. Then, choosing a  0 , we denote the coordinates of the
focus by F (a,0) , and the equation of the directrix by x  1.
Since any point P( x, y) of the parabola is the same distance from
the focus and directrix, we have

( x  a)2  ( y  0)2  x  a
We next square the binomials in this equation and collect
terms. Thus,
( x  a)2  y2  ( x  a)2
x2  2ax  a2  y2  x2  2ax  a2
y 2  4ax
This is the equation of a parabola with the vertex at the origin and focus at (a,0). Since a  0 ,
x may have positive value or zero, but no negative value. Hence, the graph extends indefinitely far into
the first and fourth quadrants, and the axis of the parabola is the positive x - axis. It is evident from the
equation that the parabola is symmetric with respect to its axis because y  2 ax .

For the latus rectum, its length can be determined from the coordinates of its endpoints. By
substituting a for x in the equation y 2  4ax , we find
y 2  4a2 and y  2a
Hence the endpoints are (a, 2a) and (a,2a). This makes the length of the latus rectum equal
to 4a. The vertex and the extremities of the latus rectum are sufficient for drawing a rough sketch of
the parabola.

Theorem.

The equation of a parabola with vertex at the origin and focus at is

The parabola opens to the right if and opens to the left if

The equation of a parabola with vertex at the origin and focus at is

The parabola opens upward if and opens downward if

Example 1. Write the equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin and the focus at (0,4). Graph
the parabola.

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Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
http://www.mathalino.com
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Example 2. A parabola has its vertex at the origin, its axis along the x - axis, passes through the point
(3,6). Find its equation.

Example 3. The equation of a parabola is x2  6 y . Find the coordinates of the focus, the equation of
the directrix, and the length of the latus rectum.

Example 4. A cable suspended from supports that are the same height and 600 feet apart has a sag of
100 feet. If the cable hangs in the form of a parabola, find its equation, taking the origin at the lowest
point.

Exercises.

A. Find the coordinates of the focus, the length of the latus rectum, and the coordinates of its endpoints
for each of the given parabolas. Find also the equation of the directrix of each parabola. Sketch the
curve.

1. y 2  16x 3. 2 y 2  3x

th
Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
http://www.mathalino.com
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2. x2  10 y 4. x2  8 y  0

B. Write the equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin that satisfies the given conditions.

5. Focus at (3,0) 7. Directrix is x  4  0

6. Focus at (0, 4) 8. Directrix is y  7  0

9. The length of the latus rectum is 10 and the parabola opens to the right.

10. The focus is on the x - axis and the parabola passes through the point (3,4).

th
Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
http://www.mathalino.com
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Parabola with Vertex at (h, k )

Theorem.

The equation of a parabola with vertex at and focus at is

The parabola opens to the right if and opens to the left if

The equation of a parabola with vertex at and focus at is

The parabola opens upward if and opens downward if

Each of the above equations is said to be in standard form. When h  0 and k  0 , they
reduce to the simpler equations of the preceding section. If the equation of the parabola is in standard
form, its graph can be quickly sketched. The vertex and the ends of the latus rectum are sufficient for a
rough sketch. The plotting of a few additional points would, of course, improve the accuracy.
We note that each of the equations is quadratic in one variable and linear in the other variable.
This fact can be expressed more vividly if we perform the indicated squares and transpose to obtain the
general forms

x2  Dx  Ey  F  0
and

y 2  Dx  Ey  F  0
Conversely, an equation in general form can be presented in a standard form, provided that
E  0 in the first general equation and D  0 in the second general equation.

Example 1. Draw the graph of the equation y 2  8x  6 y  25  0.

Example 2. Construct the graph of the equation x2  6 x  12 y  51  0.

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Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
http://www.mathalino.com
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Example 3. A parabola whose axis is parallel to the y - axis passes through the points (1,1) , (2,2) , and

(1,5). Find its equation and sketch the graph.

Exercises.
A. Express the equation, in standard form, of the parabola that satisfies the given condition.
1. Vertex at (3,2) , focus at (3,4) 3. Vertex at (4,1) , x  2 as directrix

2. Vertex at (6, 4) , focus at (0, 4) 4. Vertex at (4, 2) , y  3 as directrix

5. Vertex at (4, 2) , latus rectum 8 ; opens to the right

 1  1
6. Vertex at (3, 2) , ends of latus rectum  2,  ,  8,  .
 2  2

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Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
http://www.mathalino.com
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7. Focus at (5,0) , x  6 as directrix.

8. Focus at (2,2) , y  4 as directrix.

B. Express each equation in standard form. Give the coordinates of the vertex, the focus, and the ends
of the latus rectum. Sketch the graph.
9. y 2  8x  8  0 11. x2  10x  20 y  25  0

10. x2  4x  16 y  4  0 12. y 2  10x  6 y 1  0

C. Find the equation of the parabola satisfying the following conditions:

13. Vertex at (3, 4) , axis horizontal; passes through (2, 5).

14. Vertex at (1, 2) , axis vertical; passes through (3,6).

15. Axis vertical; passes through (1,0) , (5,0) , and (1,8).

th
Fuller, G., & Tarwater D. (1992). Analytic Geometry. 7 Edition, Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
http://www.mathalino.com