Name of Student: _________________________________________________________

Learning Area: Pre-Calculus Grade Level: ________________________

Date: ___________________________________

Learner’s Packet 6: Situational Problems Involving Conic Sections

I. Learning Skills from the MELC

After going through this Learner’s Packet, you are expected to
solve situational problems involving conics sections. (STEM_PC11AG-
Ie-2)

II. Introductory Concept

Conics have wide applications particularly in the fields of sciences
and engineering, some of which are mentioned here. Arches in
bridges are sometimes parabolic or semi elliptic in form. The path of
a trajectory (neglecting air resistance) is a parabola. The orbit taken
by each planet around the sun is an ellipse. You can also find
elliptical gears in certain machines, semi elliptic springs in
automobiles and parabolic reflectors in automobile headlights and
spotlights. Properties of hyperbolas have been used in the design of
certain telescopes and navigations for range finding.
In this Learner’s Packets, you shall apply all the concepts
you’ve learned about conics. Geometric and analytic properties will
be used in solving the problems.
III. Activities
JUMBLED GAMES
Directions: You must unscramble the letters to figure out the word/s.

Let’s play!
1. REVXET 6. CONGUJATE SIXA
2. TRANSERVES SIXA 7. CUSOF
3. MASYPOTTE 8. SELLPIE
4. IGINOR 9. SUTAL MUTCER
5. PERHYBALO 10. ECCCIENTRITY

HINTS:
1. 1 word – 6 letters: common endpoint of two or more rays or line
segments.
2. 2 words: The axis of hyperbola that passes through the two foci.
3. 1 word – 9 letters: Pass through the center of the hyperbola (h , k ) and
intersect the vertices of the rectangle with side lengths of 2 a and 2 b.
4. 1 word – 6 letters: center, has a coordinate of (0 , 0) .
5. 1 word – 9 letters: equal to the length of transverse axis.

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 1
 6. 2 words: the one that is perpendicular to the transverse axis.

7. 1 word – 5 letters: two fixed points located inside each curve of a

hyperbola that are used in the curves.
8. 1 word – 7 letters: a plane curve surrounding two focal points, such that
for all points on the curve, the sum of the two distances to the focal
points is a constant.
9. 2 words: the line through the focus and parallel to the directrix.
10.1 word – 12 letters: a fixed straight line (the directrix) are always in the
same ratio.

Let Us Study

Conic Sections are any curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a
cone of two nappes.

CONIC SECTIONS AND THEIR EQUATIONS

Conic STANDARD EQUATION
GENERAL EQUATION
Section Center at (0,0) Center at (h , k )
x 2+ y 2+Cx + Dy+ E=0
Circle x 2+ y 2=r 2 ¿ where C , D∧E are real
numbers.
2
x =4 cy ¿ Ax2 +Cx+ Dy + E=0, where
(Opens right) (Opens right) A , C , D∧E are real
2
x =−4 cy ¿ numbers and C ≠ 0.
(Opens left) (Opens left) Note: This opens either right and left.
Parabola 2
2
B y +Cx + Dy+ E=0 ,
y =4 cx ¿
(Opens upward) (Opens upward) where B ,C , D∧E are real
2
y =−4 cx ¿ numbers and C ≠ 0.
Note: This opens either upward or
(Opens downward) (Opens downward) downward.

x2 y 2 ( x−h )2
+ =1 + ¿¿ A x 2+ B y 2 +Cx+ Dy+ E=0
a2 b 2 a2 where A , B , C , D ,∧E are
Ellipse
real numbers.
x2 y 2 (x−h)2 Note: A and B should have the same
+ =¿ +¿¿ sign and are unequal.
b2 a 2 b2
x2 y 2 (x−h)2 ( y −k )2
− =1 − =1 A x 2+ B y 2 +Cx+ Dy+ E=0
a2 b2 a2 b2 where A , B , C , D ,∧E are
Hyperbola
real numbers.
y2 x2 ( y−k )2 Note: A and B should have different
− =1 −¿¿ signs.
a2 b 2 a2
To have a better grasp on the application of conic sections, study the
following examples.

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 2
Example 1:
A street with two lanes, each 10 feet wide, goes through a semicircular
tunnel with radius 12 ft. How high is the tunnel at the edge of each lane?
Round off to 2 decimal places.

Solution:
We draw a coordinate system with origin at the middle of the highway,
as shown.
y
12

P(10,0)

Since the given radius is 12 feet , the tunnel’s boundary is on the circle x 2+ y 2=122.
Now, Point P is the point on the arc just above the edge of a lane, so its x-
coordinate is 10. For you to get the height of the tunnel at edge of each lane, we
need the y-coordinate of point P. To solve for its y – coordinate, we will utilize the
equation
x 2+ y 2=122.
Using the value of x=10, we have
x 2+ y 2=122
100+ y 2=144
y 2=44
for y >0 , then y=2 √ 11≈ 6.63

Therefore, the height of the tunnel is approximately 6.63 feet.

Example 2:
A two – lane road tunnel with a semielliptical arch is 6 m high at the center,
and 16 m across the base. How close to either wall of the tunnel can a vehicle that
is 2 m high pass by the tunnel?

(0,6)

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 3
 (−8,0) (0,0) (8,0)

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 4
Solution:
Refer to the figure above. If we draw the semi ellipse on a rectangular
coordinate system, with its center at the origin, an equation of the ellipse which
x ² y²
contains it is + =¿1.
64 36
The major axis of the ellipse is along the x-axis with vertices at (± 8 , 0) and
with endpoint of the minor axis at (0 , 6).

To maximize the distance of the vehicle from the center of the tunnel, would
have just to touch the ellipse, let the point ( x ,2) be the corner of the vehicle in the
first quadrant, where x >0, is the maximum distance of the vehicle from the center
of the tunnel. Since this point is on the ellipse, it should fit the equation.
x ² y²
+ =1
64 36
16 √ 2
x= ≈ 7.54
3

To avoid the vehicle to hit the edge of the tunnel, it should pass by the portion of
the tunnel where the height is more than two (2) meters, that is, y >2.
16 √2
Therefore, the vehicle should be less than meters or approximately less than
3
7.54 meters or less from the center of the tunnel.

Hence, for the 2-m high vehicle to pass by the tunnel, it should be more than 0.46
meter away to either wall of the tunnel.
Example 3
The cable of a suspension bridge hangs in the shape of a parabola. The towers
supporting the cable are 400 ft apart and 150 ft high. If the cable, at its lowest, is
30 ft above the bridge at its midpoint, how high is the cable 50 ft away
(horizontally) from either tower?

(200,150)

(0,30)

Solution

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Refer to the figure above, where the parabolic cable is drawn with its vertex on the
y−axis 30 feet above the origin. Thus, you can write its equation as
( x−0 ) 2=a( y−30).

Since we don’t need the focal distance, we use the simpler variable a in place of 4c.
Since the towers are 150 feet high and 400 feet apart, we deduce from the figure
that (200,150) is a point on the parabola.

x 2=a ( y−30)

2002=a(150−30)
200²
a=
120
1000
ɑ=
3
2 1000
Using the value of a in equation x 2=a ( y−30), we arrive at x = ( y−30) or
3
equivalently, y=0.003 x 2 +30.

For the two points on the parabola 50 ft away from the towers, x – 150∨x=−150.
If x=150, then
y=0.003(150)2+30=97.5
Thus, the cable is 97.5 ft high away from either tower. (As expected, we get the
same answer from x = -150.)

Example 4

An explosion is heard by two stations 1200 m apart, located at F 1(600, 0) and

F2(600, 0). If the explosion was heard in F1 two (2) seconds before it was heard in
F2, identify the possible locations of the explosion. Use 340 m/s as the speed of
sound.

Solution
Using the given speed of sound, we deduce that the sound traveled 340(2) = 680 m
farther in reaching F2 than in reaching F1. This is then the difference of the
distances of the explosion from the two (2) stations. Thus, the explosion is on a
hyperbola with foci are F1 and F2, on the branch closer to F1.

explosion

F1 F2

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We have c=600 and 2 a=680, so a=340and b 2=c 2−a 2=244400 . The explosion
x² y2
could therefore be anywhere on the left branch of the hyperbola − =1
115600 244400
.

Directions: Answer the following problems. Show your solutions.

1. A Ferris wheel is elevated 1 meter above ground. When a car

reaches the highest point on the Ferris wheel, its altitude from
Try This!
ground level is 31 meters. How far away from the center,
horizontally, is the car when it is at an altitude of 25 meters?
Activity 2. The towers supporting the cable of a suspension bridge are
I 1200 meters apart and 170 meters above the bridge it
supports. Suppose the cable hangs, following the shape of a
parabola, with its lowest point 20 meters above the bridge. How
high is the cable 120 meters away from a tower?
3. An arch in the form of a semi ellipse has a span of 10 meters
and a central height of 4 meters. What is the height of the arch
at a point from the semi minor axis?

Directions: Read and analyze the following problems. Write the

Do More!
letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet. Take note of
the items that you were not able to answer correctly and find
Activity I
the right answer as you go through this packet.
1. The arch of a bridge is in the shape of a semi ellipse, with its major axis at
the water level. Suppose the arch is 20 ft high in the middle, and 120 ft.
across its major axis. How high above the water level is the arch, at a point
20 ft. from the center (horizontally)? Round off to 2 decimal places.
a. 18.80 ft. c. 18.96 ft
b. 18.86 ft. d. 19.86 ft.

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 7
 2. A single-lane street 10 feet wide goes through a semi-circular tunnel with
radius 9 ft. How high is the tunnel at the edge of each lane? Round off to 2
decimal places.
a. 7.48 ft. c. 8.48 ft
b. 7.84 ft. d. 9.48 ft.

3. A whispering gallery has a semi elliptical ceiling that is 9 m high and 30 m

long. How high is the ceiling above the two (2) foci?
a. 4.5 m c. 5.4 m
b. 5.0 m d. 5.5 m

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 8
 IV. Rubrics for Scoring
Rubrics for Additional Activity A
Outstanding Satisfactory Developing Beginning
Criteria
4 3 2 1
Identifies the
Understands
standard forms of Doesn’t
enough to solve
an equation that understand
Understands the part of the
influences the enough to get
Understands approach before
problem. problem or to get
started or make
the Problem part of the
starting the progress.
solution.
problem.
Uses a Uses a
Uses a
representation representation
representation Uses a
that gives some that gives little or
that is unusual representation
Uses in its that clearly
important no significant
Representatio information information
mathematical depicts the
about the about the
n precision. problem.
problem problem.
Correct solution
Copying error,
of problem and
computational
made a general No answer or
error, partial
rule about the wrong answer
Correct answer from
solution or based upon an
Answer the solution. problem with
extended the inappropriate
Problem multiple answer
solution to a plan.
statement,
more complicated
answer labeled
solution.
incorrectly.

IV. Answer Key

Jumbled Game
1. Vertex 6. Conjugate axis
2. Transverse Axis 7. Focus
3. Asymptote 8. Ellipse
4. Origin 9. Latus Rectum
5. Hyperbola 10.Eccentricity
Try this
1. 12 meters
2. 116 meters
3. 3.2 meters
Do More!
1. B 2. A 3. C

VI. Reflection
What have you learned in this Learner’s Packet? Please choose a
number below.

1 2 3 4
Even with help, I Help me a little, I need some more I need a challenge or
don’t get it. and I got it. practice. can help someone else.

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 9
 VII. References
Department of Education (Bureau of Learning Resources) Pre – Calculus
Learner’s Material. Lexicon Press Inc., Philippines, 2016
Department of Education (Bureau of Learning Resources) Pre - Calculus
Teacher’s Guide. Lexicon Press Inc., Philippines, 2016
Melosantos, Luis Allan B. et. al. Mathematics Connection in the Digital Age Pre
Calculus. SIBS Publishing House, Inc., 2016
Orines, Fernando B. Next Century Mathematics Pre – Calculus. Phoenix
Publishing House, 2016
https://www.shelovesmath.com/precal/conics/

https://www.scribd.com

LUISA E. DIESTA
Smile Learner’s Packet Writer

MERCY A. GAMBA (Bulan NHS)

Smile Learner’s Packet Validator

CHAD LOWE V. VILLARROYA (Gubat NHS)

Smile Learner’s Packet Illustrator/ layout artist

RO_Pre-Calculus_SHS_Q1_LP6 10