BOARD

STUDY
MATERIALS

PARABOLA
COMPOSED BY:
DWAIPAYAN RAY
B.E. (JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY)
HEAD OFFICE: - 119, SANTOSHPUR AVENUE, KOLKATA- 700 075 (JADAVPUR)
(Beside Santoshpur Lake P.O. & Allahabad Bank)

9830870782
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SECTION – I (i)
2 
 ,0
8 
(ii)  , 0 
Fill in the blanks: 3  3 
 8  2
(iii)  0,  (iv)  0, 
1. (i) The length of latus rectum of the parabola 3x2 =  3  3
– 8y is _______ .
(ii) The co – ordinates of focus of the parabola y2 = 6. The equation of the directrix of the parabola 2x2 =
– 5x are _______ . 3y is
(i) 8x + 3 = 0 (ii) 8x – 3 = 0
In each of the following cases, state whether the (iii) 8y + 3 = 0 (iv) 8y – 3 = 0
statement is true or false:

2. (i) x = 2 y 2 − 3 y + 6 represents a parabola whose SECTION – II

axis is parallel to positive y-axis.
(ii) x = 2at, y = at2 represent the equation of a 1. (i) Find the focus, the length of the latus rectum
parabola and the directrix of the parabola 3x2 = 8y [HS 86]
(iii) If the coordinates of vertex and focus of a (ii) Find the length of the latus rectum of the
parabola be (-2, 3) and (1, 3) respectively, then the
parabola y = −2 x 2 + 12 x − 17
axis of the parabola is parallel to y-axis.
(iv) A straight line parallel to the axis of a parabola
cuts it in two points. 2. (i) Find the equation of the parabola whose
coordinates of vertex and focus are (0, 0) and
(v) y = ax 2 + bx + c represents the equation of a
parabola whose axis is parallel to y-axis. 3 
 , 0  respectively.
(vi) If the coordinates of vertex and focus of a 2 
parabola are (2, 1) and (2, 3) respectively, then the (ii) The vertex of a parabola is at the origin and its
axis of the parabola will be parallel to y-axis.  5
(vii) The point (2at, at2) lies on the parabola x2 = 4ay focus is  0, −  ; find the equation of the parabola.
 4
(viii) Any point on a parabola is equidistant from its
focus and directrix.
3. (i) The parabola x2 + 2py = 0 passes through the
point (4, -2); find the coordinates of focus and the
Choose correct option [3 – 6]: length of latus rectum.
(ii) The parabola y2 = 2ax goes through the point of
3. The coordinates of the focus of the parabola 2x2 = -
x y x y
5y are intersection of + =1 and + = 1 . Find its
3 2 2 3
 5   5 
(i)  − ,0 (ii)  − , 0  focus.
 8   2 
 5  5 4. (i) A parabola having vertex at the origin and axis
(iii)  0, −  (iv)  0, − 
 2  8 along x-axis passes through (6, -2); find the
equation of the parabola.
4. The equation of the directrix of the parabola 3y2 = - (ii) The axis of a parabola is along y-axis and vertex
4x is is (0, 0). If it passes through (-3, 2), find the
(i) 3y – 1 = 0 (ii) 3x – 1 = 0 coordinates of its focus.
(iii) 3y + 1 = 0 (iv) 3x + 1 = 0
5. (i) Find the equation of the parabola whose vertex
5. The coordinates of the focus of the parabola 3y2 = is (0, 0) and directrix is the line x + 3 = 0
8x are (ii) Find the equation of the parabola whose vertex
is at the origin and directrix is the line y – 4 = 0
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6. If the parabola y2 = 4ax passes through the point of a’ from the origin respectively is =
y 2 4(a '− a )
intersection of the straight lines 3x + y + 5 = 0 and x ( x − a)
+ 3y – 1 = 0, find the coordinates of its focus and
the length of its latus rectum.
4. (i) Find the equation of the parabola whose vertex
is the point (-2, 3) and directrix is the line x + 7 = 0
7. (i) The parabola y2 = 4ax passes through the
centre of the circle 2 x 2 + 2 y 2 + 12 y − 1 =0; find (ii) Find the equation of the parabola whose vertex
the coordinates of the focus, length of the latus is the point (1, -2) and the equation of directrix is y
rectum and equation of the directrix. +5=0

(ii) If the parabola y2 = 4ax passes through the 5. (i) Find the equation of the parabola whose focus
centre of the circle x 2 + y 2 + 4 x − 12 y − 4 =0, is at the origin and the equation of directrix is x + y
what is the length of the latus rectum of the =1
parabola?
(ii) Find the equation of the parabola whose focus
is (2, 1) and whose directrix is 3x – y + 1 = 0

SECTION – III (iii) The equation of the directrix of a parabola is x =

y and the coordinates of its focus are (4, 0). Find the
1. Find the axis, coordinates of vertex and focus, equation of the parabola.
length of latus rectum, equation of directrix and the
coordinates of the ends of latus rectum for each of 6. Find the coordinates of vertex and the length of
the following parabolas: latus rectum of the parabola whose focus is (0, 0)
(i) y 2 = 20 x and the directrix is the line 2x + y = 1
(ii) x 2 = −12 y
7. A point moves in such a way that its distance from
(iii) 5 x 2 = 16 y the point (2, 5) is equal to its distance from the line
(iv) 3 y 2 = −4 x 2x + 4y = 3. Find the equation of its path. What is
the name of the curve?
(v) ( y + 3) 2 = 2( x + 2)
(vi) 4( x − 2) 2 =
−5( y + 3) 8. The coordinates of a moving point P are (2t2 + 4, 4t
(vii) =
y 2 6( x + y ) + 6); show that the locus of P is a parabola.
(viii) y 2 − 4 x − 2 y − 7 =0 9. If θ is a variable parameter, show that the

2. (i) Find the equation of the parabola whose vertex equations

1
x=
4
( 3 − cos ec 2θ ) , y =
2 + cot θ
is at (2, -3), axis is parallel to x-axis and length of
represent the equation of a parabola. Find the
latus rectum is 12.
coordinates of vertex, focus and the length of latus
rectum of the parabola.
(ii) The coordinates of the vertex and focus of a
parabola are (1, 2) and (-1, 2) respectively; find its
10. Find the equation of the circle, one of whose
equation.
diameters is the latus rectum of y2 = 4ax. Show that
this circle goes through the common point of the
(iii) Show that the equation of the parabola whose
axis and the directrix of the parabola.
vertex is (2, 3) and focus is (2, -1) is x 2 − 4 x + 16 y
= 44

3. Show that the equation of the parabola whose

vertex and focus are on the x-axis at distances a and
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SECTION – IV points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) then prove that, y1 y2 +
4 x1 x2 = 0 .
1. (i) Find the equation of the parabola whose vertex
is (2, 3) and the equation of latus rectum is x = 4. 9. Find the equation of the circle passing through the
Find the coordinates of the point of intersection of origin and the foci of the parabolas y2 = 8x and x2 =
this parabola with its latus rectum. 24y

(ii) The coordinates of the two ends of latus 10. Find the equation of the circle on SC as diameter,
rectum of a parabola are (8, 1) and (-4, 1); find the where S is the focus of y2 = 12x and C is the centre
equation of the parabola. of x 2 + y 2 − 18 x − 16 y + 45 =
0 . Also find the
length of the chord of the circle lying along the x-
2. Find the equation of the parabola whose vertex is (- axis.
2, 2) and focus is (-6, -6).
11. Q is any point on the parabola y2 = 4ax; QN is the
3. The directrix of a parabola is x + y + 4 = 0 and vertex ordinate of Q and P is the mid-point of QN. Prove
is the point (-1, -1). Find that the focus of P is a parabola whose latus rectum
(i) the position of focus and is one-fourth that of the given parabola.

(ii) the equation of the parabola 12. Find the equation of the circle drawn on the line
segment joining the foci of the two parabolas x2 =
4. (i) The axis of a parabola is parallel to x-axis and it 4ay and y2 = 4a (x – a) as diameter.
passes through the points (2, 0), (1, -1) and (6, -2);
find its equation.
13. PQ is a double ordinate of the parabola y2 = 4ax;
(ii) A parabola passé through the points (0, 0), (2, find the equation to the locus of its point of
2) and (-2, -6) and its axis is parallel to y-axis. Find trisection.
its equation.
14. Show that the circle described on a focal chord of a
5. (i) If the extremities of a focal chord of the parabola as diameter touches its directrix.
parabola y2 = 4ax be (at12 , 2at1 ) and (at22 , 2at2 ) ,
15. Prove that the sum of the reciprocals of the
prove that t1t2 = −1 segments of any focal chord of a parabola is
constant.
(ii) If (at2, 2at) be the coordinates of an extremity
of a focal chord of the parabola y2 = 4ax, then show 16. The length of latus rectum of a parabola is 16 units.
2 The distance of a point P on the parabola from its
 1
that the length of the chord is a  t +  axis is 12 units. Find the distance of P from the
 t focus of the parabola.

6. Show that the equation of the chord of the

parabola y2 = 4ax through the points ( x1 , y1 ) and
( x2 , y2 ) on it is ( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) = y 2 − 4ax

7. Show that the product of the ordinates of the ends

of a focal chord of the parabola y2 = 4ax is constant.

8. If a straight line passing through the focus of the

parabola y2 = 4ax intersects the parabola at the
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1. If y1 , y2 , y3 be the ordinates of a vertices of the 9. The equation 16 x + y + 8 xy − 74 x − 78 y + 212 =
2 2
0
triangle inscribed in a parabola y = 4ax, then show
2 represents
that the area of the triangle is (a) a circle (b) a parabola
(c) an ellipse (d) a hyperbola
1
( y1 − y2 )( y2 − y3 )( y3 − y1 ) .
8a 10. A rod AB of length 15 cm rests in between two
coordinate axes in such a way that the end point A
2. If a parabolic reflector is 20 cm in diameter and 5 cm lies on x-axis and end point B lies on y-axis. A point is
deep, find its focus. taken on the rod in such a way that AP = 6 cm. Show
that the locus ofP is an ellipse. Also, find its
3. An arc is in the form of a parabola with its axis
eccentricity.
vertical. The arc is 10 m high and 5 m wide at the
base. How wide is it 2m from the vertex of the 11. An arc is in the form of a semi-ellipse. It is 8 m wide
parabola. and 2m high at the centre. Find the height of the arch
at a point 1.5 m from one end.
4. The towers of a bridge, hung in the form of a
parabola, have their tops 30 m above the roadway 12. A man running a race-course notes that the sum of
and are 200 metres apart. If the cable is 5 m above the distances from the two flag posts from him is
the roadway at the centre of the bridge, find the always 10 metres and the distance between the flag
length of the vertical supporting cable 30 metres posts is 8 metres. Find the equation of the path
from the centre. traced by the man.

5. A beam is supported at its ends by supports which are 13. If the minor axis of an ellipse subtends an equilateral
12 metres apart. Since the load is connected at its triangle with vertex at one end of major axis, then
centre, there is a deflection of 3 cm at the centre and write the eccentricity of the ellipse.
the deflected beam is in the shape of a parabola. How
for from the centre is the deflection 1 cm? 14. If a latus-rectum of an ellipse subtends a right angle at
the centre of the ellipse, then write the eccentricity
6. The cable of a uniformly loaded suspension bridge of the ellipse.
hangs in the form of a parabola. The roadway which
is horizontal and 100 m long is supported by vertical
x2 y2
wires attached to the cable, the longest wire being 30 15. The equation + +1 =0 represents an
m and the shortest wire being 6 m. Find the length of 2−λ λ −5
a supporting wire attached to the roadway 18 m from ellipse, if
the middle. (a) λ < 5 (b) λ < 2
(c) 2 < λ < 5 (d) λ < 2 or λ < 5
7. If V and S are respectively the vertex and focus of the ANSWERS
parabola y2 + 6y + 2x + 5 = 0, then SV= 1. PROOF 2. 8 30 cm 3. 5 m
(a) 2 (b) ½
29
(c) 1 (d) none of these 4. 5. 2 6 m 6. 9.11 m 7. (b)
4
8. In the parabola y2 = 4 ax, the length of the chord 5
8. (a) 9. (b) 10.
passing through the vertex and inclined to the axis at 3
π / 4 is 39 x2 y 2 2
(a) 4 2a (b) 2 2a 11. m 12. + =
1 13.
4 25 9 3
(c) 2a (d) none of these
5 −1
14. 15. (c)
2