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Conic Section: Parabola: Vertex: (0,0) Parabola With Horizontal Axis of Symmetry

The document defines and describes the key properties of a parabola: - A parabola is the set of all points equidistant from both a fixed line called the directrix and a fixed point called the focus. - Key properties include the directrix, focus, axis of symmetry, latus rectum, and vertex. - The document provides examples of finding the focus, directrix, and drawing parabolas given their equations, whether the parabola opens left/right or up/down depending on the sign of the constant term.

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Daniel Santos
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512 views4 pages

Conic Section: Parabola: Vertex: (0,0) Parabola With Horizontal Axis of Symmetry

The document defines and describes the key properties of a parabola: - A parabola is the set of all points equidistant from both a fixed line called the directrix and a fixed point called the focus. - Key properties include the directrix, focus, axis of symmetry, latus rectum, and vertex. - The document provides examples of finding the focus, directrix, and drawing parabolas given their equations, whether the parabola opens left/right or up/down depending on the sign of the constant term.

Uploaded by

Daniel Santos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Conic Section: Parabola

What is Parabola?
 A parabola is a set of all coplanar points that are equidistant from a fixed
line and a fixed point not on the fixed line.

Directrix (d) – the fixed line d corresponding


to the focus
Focus (F) – the fixed point of the conic
Axis of symmetry
 the line perpendicular to the directrix and
passing through the focus F.
Latus Rectum
 the chord that passes through the focus
and perpendicular to the axis of
symmetry.
Vertex
 the point on the parabola midway between the latus rectum and the directrix.
 is the point where the curve changes direction.

Parabola with Focus at (p,0)


Vertex: (0,0) Parabola with horizontal axis of symmetry

Equation 𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥

Focus (p,0)

Opening of If p<0, parabola opens to the left.


Parabola If p>0, parabola opens to the right
Latus Rectum Equation: x = ±p
Direction: Vertical
Length: 4p
Endpoints: (p, ±2p)
Axis of Symmetry Equation: y = k
Direction: Horizontal
Directrix Equation: x = -p
Drection: Vertical

p>0 p<0
Example 1: Find the coordinates of the focus and the equation of the directrix for
each parabola. Draw the parabola, its focus and directrix.

a) 𝑦 2 = 28𝑥

b) 𝑦 2 = −16𝑥

Solution:

a) 𝑦 2 = 28𝑥 Directrix: (x, 0)


x = −𝑝
Focus: (p,0)
x = −7
𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥 Diretrix: (−7,0)

28𝑥 = 4𝑝𝑥
Endpoints of Latus Rectum:
28𝑥 4𝑝𝑥
= (p, ±2p)
4𝑥 4𝑥

7=𝑝 (p,2p) (p,-2p)

𝑝=7 (7,2(7)) (7,-2(7))

Focus: (7,0) (7,14) (7,-14)

Endpoints of Latus Rectum:


(7,14);(7,-14)

Solution:
Directrix: (x, 0)
2
b) 𝑦 = −16𝑥 x = −𝑝
x = −(−4)
Focus: (p,0) 𝑥=4
Diretrix: (4,0)
𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥

−16𝑥 = 4𝑝𝑥 Endpoints of Latus Rectum:


−16𝑥 4𝑝𝑥 (p, ±2p)
=
4𝑥 4𝑥
(p,2p) (p,-2p)
−4 = 𝑝
(-4,2(-4)) (-4,-2(-4))
𝑝 = −4
(-4,-8) (-4,8)
Focus: (-4,0)
Endpoints of Latus Rectum:
(-4,-8);(-4,8)
Parabola with Focus at (0,p)

Vertex: (0,0) Parabola with horizontal axis of symmetry

Equation 𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦
Focus (0,p)

Opening of Parabola If p<0, parabola opens downward.


If p>0, parabola opens upward.
Latus Rectum Equation: y = ±p
Direction: Horizontal
Length: 4p
Endpoints: (±2p, p)
Axis of Symmetry Equation: x = h
Direction: Vertical
Directrix Equation: y = -p
Drection: Horizontal

p>0 p<0

Example 2: Find the coordinates of the focus and the equation of the directrix for
each parabola. Draw the parabola, its focus and directrix.

a) 𝑥 2 = −10𝑦

b) 𝑥 2 − 8𝑦 = 0

Solution

a) 𝑥 2 = −10𝑦

Focus: (0,p)

𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦

−10𝑦 = 4𝑝𝑦
−10𝑦 4𝑝𝑦
= Directrix: (0, y) Endpoints of Latus Rectum: (±2p, p)
4𝑦 4𝑦
𝑦 = −𝑝
−5 −5 (2p,p) (-2p, p)
=𝑝 y = −( )
2
2 (2((−5)/2), (−5)/2)
5
−5 y=
𝑝= 2 (-2((−5)/2), (−5)/2)
2 5
−5
Diretrix: (0, )
Focus: (0, ) 2 (-5, (−5)/2) (2, (−5)/2)
2
Endpoints of Latus Rectum:

(-5, (−5)/2); (5, (−5)/2)

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