Lesson 9: HYPERBOLAS
Introduction
The third type of conic is called a hyperbola. The definition
of a hyperbola is similar to that of an ellipse.
The difference is that for an ellipse the sum of the
distances between the foci and a point on the ellipse is
fixed, whereas for a hyperbola the difference of the
distances between the foci and a point on the hyperbola is
fixed.
2
Introduction
Figure 10.30 3
Introduction
The graph of a hyperbola has two disconnected branches.
The line through the two foci intersects the hyperbola at its
two vertices.
The line segment connecting
the vertices is the transverse
axis, and the midpoint of the
transverse axis is the center
of the hyperbola.
4
Introduction 0b a
Standard Equation of a Hyperbola (Centered at the Origin)
x2 y 2
2
2 1 Transverse Axis is Horizontal
a b
2
c a b 2 2 0,b
Translate: F2 c, 0 0, 0 F1 c, 0
a , 0 a , 0
x h y k
2 2
2
2
1
a b 0, b
h units & k units
5
Introduction
Standard Equation of a Hyperbola (Centered at the Origin)
y 2 x2
2
2 1 Transverse Axis is Vertical
a b F 0, c 1
2 2 2
c a b
Translate: 0, a
0, 0
b, 0 b, 0
y k x h
2 2
0, a
2
2
1
a b
F2 c, 0
h units & k units
6
Example 1 – Finding the Standard Equation of a Hyperbola
Find the standard form of the equation of the hyperbola
with foci (–1, 2) and (5, 2) and vertices (0, 2) and (4, 2).
x h y k
2 2
2
2
1 0,b
0, 5
a b
c 2 a 2 b 2 F2 1, 2 2, 2 F1 5, 2
2
0, 2 4, 2
9 4 b
2
b 5 b 5 0,0, b5
Not to Scale
x 2 y 2
2 2
1 Transverse Axis is Horizontal
4 5 7
Asymptotes of a Hyperbola
5
y 2 x 2
2
8
Example 2 – Using Asymptotes to Sketch a Hyperbola
Sketch the hyperbola whose equation is 4x2 – y2 = 16.
x2 y 2 b
2
2 1 y x y 2 x
a b a y 2 x
0, 4
2 2
x y
1
F2 2 5, 0 0, 0
F1 2 5, 0
4 16 2, 0 2, 0
c 2 a 2 b 2 0, 4
c 2 20 Not to Scale
c 2 5 9
Asymptotes of a Hyperbola
As with ellipses, the eccentricity of a hyperbola is
Eccentricity
and because c > a, it follows that
e > 1. If the eccentricity is large, the
branches of the hyperbola are
nearly flat, as shown in
Figure 10.40.
Figure 10.40
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Asymptotes of a Hyperbola
If the eccentricity is close to 1, the branches of the
hyperbola are more narrow, as shown in Figure 10.41.
Figure 10.41
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General Equations of Conics
The test above is valid if the graph is a conic. The test does
not apply to equations such as x2 + y2 = –1, whose graph is
not a conic.
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Example 6 – Classifying Conics from General Equations
Classify the graph of each equation. A 4, C 0
a. 4x2 – 9x + y – 5 = 0
b. 4x2 – y2 + 8x – 6y + 4 = 0
c. 2x2 + 4y2 – 4x + 12y = 0 Parabola
d. 2x2 + 2y2 – 8x + 12y + 2 = 0
13
Example 6 – Classifying Conics from General Equations
Classify the graph of each equation. A 4, C 1
a. 4x2 – 9x + y – 5 = 0
b. 4x2 – y2 + 8x – 6y + 4 = 0
c. 2x2 + 4y2 – 4x + 12y = 0
Hyperbola
d. 2x2 + 2y2 – 8x + 12y + 2 = 0
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Example 6 – Classifying Conics from General Equations
Classify the graph of each equation. A 2, C 4
a. 4x2 – 9x + y – 5 = 0
b. 4x2 – y2 + 8x – 6y + 4 = 0
c. 2x2 + 4y2 – 4x + 12y = 0
Ellipse
d. 2x2 + 2y2 – 8x + 12y + 2 = 0
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Example 6 – Classifying Conics from General Equations
Classify the graph of each equation. A 2, C 2
a. 4x2 – 9x + y – 5 = 0
b. 4x2 – y2 + 8x – 6y + 4 = 0
c. 2x2 + 4y2 – 4x + 12y = 0 Circle
d. 2x2 + 2y2 – 8x + 12y + 2 = 0
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Problems 41 & 47
Find the standard form of the hyperbola with the given characteristics.
V1 0, 4 , V2 0, 0 , Passing through 5, 1
y k x h
2 2
2
2
1 Transverse Axis is Vertical
a b
2
1 2
2
5 0
2
1 0, 4
4 b 0, 2
9 5 4 5 5
2 2 0, 0
4 b 4 4 b
5, 1
y 2
2 2
x
1 17
4 4
Problems 41 & 47
Write the standard form of the hyperbola.
y 2 x2
2
2 1 Transverse Axis is Vertical
a b
25 4 9
2
9 b 9
16 4 2 9 9
2 b 4 v
9 b 16 4
2 2
y x
1
9 9/4 18
HW p. 758/9-21 EOO, 23,27,29,33,37,39,49
Applications
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Example 5 – An Application Involving
Hyperbolas
Two microphones, 1 mile apart, record an explosion.
Microphone A receives the sound 2 seconds before
microphone B. Where did the explosion occur? (Assume
sound travels at 1100 feet per second.)
Solution:
Assuming sound travels at
1100 feet per second, you
know that the explosion took
place 2200 feet farther from
B than from A, as shown in
Figure 10.42. 2c = 5280
2200 + 2(c – a) = 5280
Figure 10.42
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Example 5 – Solution cont’d
The locus of all points that are 2200 feet closer to A than to
B is one branch of the hyperbola
where
and
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Example 5 – Solution cont’d
So,
b2 = c2 – a2
= 26402 – 11002
= 5,759,600,
and you can conclude that the explosion occurred
somewhere on the right branch of the hyperbola
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Applications
Another interesting application of conic sections involves
the orbits of comets in our solar system.
Of the 610 comets identified prior
to 1970, 245 have elliptical orbits,
295 have parabolic orbits, and 70
have hyperbolic orbits.
The center of the sun is a focus of
each of these orbits, and each orbit
has a vertex at the point where the
comet is closest to the sun, as
shown in Figure 10.43. Figure 10.43
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Applications
Undoubtedly, there have been many comets with
parabolic or hyperbolic orbits that were not identified. We
only get to see such comets once.
Comets with elliptical orbits, such as Halley’s comet, are
the only ones that remain in our solar system.
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Applications
If p is the distance between the vertex and the focus (in
meters), and v is the velocity of the comet at the vertex (in
meters per second), then the type of orbit is determined
as follows.
1. Ellipse:
2. Parabola:
3. Hyperbola:
In each of these relations, M = 1.989 1030 kilograms (the
mass of the sun) and G 6.67 10 –11 cubic meter per
kilogram-second squared (the universal gravitational
constant). 25
