10 Conic Sections

Roller coasters are wonderful examples of parabolas as they curve in just one direction.
This conic form is excellent for Roller coasters because it provides riders the feeling of
climbing a hill, reaching the peak, then coasting down at high speeds.
 CIRCLE AND PARABOLA 1
TOPIC 1
SECTIONS OF A CONE

Section of a Doubled Napped Right Circular Cone by a Plane

Consider a double napped right circular cone, having semi-vertical angle θ. Let
α be the angle between the plane and the axis of cone.
Case I: When the plane passes through vertex of the cone
If the plane passes through the vertex of the cone, then it cuts both nappies.
According to the value of α, we get the following sections:
(i) When θ < α ≤ 90°, then the section is a point.




(ii) When θ = α, then the plane contains the generator of cone and the section
is a straight line. It is a degenerated case of a parabola.

(iii) When 0 ≤ α < θ, then section is a pair of straight lines. It is a degenerated

case of a hyperbola.

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Case II: When the plane does not pass through vertex of the cone, then it cuts
only one nappe. According to the value of α, we get the following sections:
(i) When α = 90°, then cutting plane section is a circle.

90°
a


(ii) When θ < α < 90°, then cutting plane section is an ellipse.




(iii) When α = θ i.e., plane is parallel to a generator, then cutting plane is parabola.




Circle, Ellipse, Parabola: When the plane cuts the nappe (other than the vertex)
of the cone, we have the following situations:
(1) When β = 90°, the section is a circle (As shown in figure (a)).
(2) When α < β < 90°, the section is an ellipse (As shown in figure (b)).
(3) When β = α; the section is a parabola (As shown in figure (c)).

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(a) (b) (c)

Important

 Degenerated conic sections:

(1) When α < β ≤ 90°, then the section is a point (As shown in figure (d))




(d)
(2) When β = α, the plane contains a generator of the cone and the section is a
straight line.
It is the degenerated case of a parabola. (As shown in figure (e)).

(e)
Conic
(1) The locus of a point which moves in a plane such that the ratio of its distance
from a fixed point to its perpendicular distance from a fixed straight line is
always constant, is known as a conic section or a conic.
(2) The fixed point (S) is called focus of the conic, the fixed line (l) is called directrix
of the conic and the constant ratio is called eccentricity of the conic.

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 l
M P

..
S (focus)

Directrix

Conic Sections 5
 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[ 1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Equation of a circle with centre (–a, –b) and radius = 100 is:
(a)(x – a)2 + (y – b)2 = 100
(b)(x + a)2 + (y + b)2 = 10000
(c) x2 + y2 = 100
(d)None
Ans. (b) (x + a)2 + (y + b)2 = 10000
Explanation: We know that the equation of a circle is given by,
(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2
Here, h = –a, k = –b and r = 100
So equation will be,
(x + a)2 + (y + b)2 = 10000

Assertion Reason Questions

Direction: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed
by a statement of Reason (R).
Choose the correct answer out of the following choices.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
2. Assertion (A):The parabola y2 = 8x where the value of a is 2.
Reason (R): The equation of a circle x2 + y2 = 25 having centre on + ve
x-axis and radius is 5.
Ans. (c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
Explanation: The parabola y2 = 8x, here 4a = 8 or, a = 2
The equation of circle x2 + y2 = 25 having centre centre (0, 0) means at
origin and radius is 5.

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 VERY SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (VSA)
[ 1 mark ]

3. If parabola y2 = px passes through point (2, –3) then, find the length of
latus rectum. [Delhi Gov. QB 2022]
Ans. Since the point (–2, 3) is on the parabola y2 = px, we must have:
(3)2 = p(–2)
⇒ p = –4.5
Comparing this with the standard equation y2 = 4ax, we can say that the
length of the latus rectum is 4a = p.
As we know, length cannot be negative so the length of latus rectum = 4a
= |p| = 4.5.

SHORT ANSWER Type-I Questions (SA-I)

[ 2 marks ]

4. Find the equation of the circle which passes through the points (1, –2)
and (4, –3) has its centre on the line 3x + 4y = 7. [Diksha]
Ans. Let the equation of the circle be
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ...(i)
Since it passes through (1, –2) and (4, –3)
∴ 5 + 2g – 4f + c = 0 ...(ii)
and25 + 8g – 6f + c= 0 ...(iii)
Also (–g, –f) centre of circle (i) lies on 3x + 4y = 7
–3g – 4f = 7...(iv)
Subtracting eq. (ii) from (iii), we get
20 + 6g – 2f = 0 ...(v)
Solving eq. (iv) and (v), we get
47 3 9 
g=− , f = = 
15 5  15 

Substituting these values of g and f in eq. (ii), we get

11  55 
c= = 
3  15 

∴ From eq. (i), we get

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 94 18 55
x 2 + y2 + x + y+ =0
15 15 15

15x + 15y – 94x + 18y + 55 = 0

which is the required equation on the circle.

SHORT ANSWER Type-II Questions (SA-II)

[ 3 marks ]
5. Find the equation of the circle which touches x-axis and whose centre
is (1, 2).
Ans. Given that, centre of the circle is (1, 2).
(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2
y

C(1, 2)
2

x 1 x

y

Put, h = 1, k = 2
Q r= 2
So, the equation of circle is
(x – 1)2 + (y – 2)2 = 22
⇒ x2 – 2x + 1 + y2 – 4y + 4 = 4
⇒x2 – 2x + y2 – 4y + 1 =0
2 2
⇒x + y – 2x – 4y + 1 =0

8 Mathematics Class XI
 ELLIPSE AND HYPERBOLA 2
TOPIC 1
ELLIPSE
An ellipse is the set of all points in a plane, the sum of whose distances from
two fixed points in the plane is a constant. The two fixed points are called the
foci of the ellipse.
Minor axis Y
l l
L B P(x, y)
M Q M
Major
A Foci axis
X
Z S C S A Z

er
X

nt
Vertex
Directrix Ce Vertex Directrix
Q
Double L B
ordinateLatus rectum 
Y

x2 y2 x2 y2
Standard equation + =1 , a > b + =1, a < b
a2 b2 b2 a2
Y
(0, b)

(0, be)
Y
(0, b) P S
P
(–a, 0) (a, 0)
(–ae, 0) (ae, 0) (0, 0)
X
Graph
X X X
S (0, 0) S (–a, 0) (a, 0)
(0, –b) (0, –be)
S
Y
(0, –b)
Y

Coordinates of the (0, 0) (0, 0)

centre
Coordinates of the (± a, 0) (0, ± b)
vertices
Length of major axis 2a 2b
Length of minor axis 2b 2a
Coordinates of foci (± ae, 0) (0, ± be)
Equation of directrices a
x = ± 
b
y = ± 
e e

Eccentricity b2 a2
e = 1− e = 1−
a2 b2

Length of latus rec- 2b2 2a2

tum a b

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Ends of latus rectum  b2   a2 
 ± ae, ±   ± , ± be

a b

Focal distance or radii | SP | =(a – ex1) and | S′P | SP | = (b – ey1) and | S′P
| = (a + ex1) | = (b + ey1)
Sum of focal radii = | 2a 2b
SP | + | SP |
Distance between foci 2ae 2be
Caution
 The constant which is the sum of the distances of a point on the ellipse from
the two fixed points is always greater than the distance between the two fixed
points.
Important
 If length of major axis is 2a, length of minor axis is 2b and distance between
the foci is 2c, then a2 = b2 + c2.

...
 Ellipse is symmetric w.r.t. both the coordinate axes.
 The foci always lie on the major axis.
 If length of semi-major axis and semi-minor axis are equal, then the ellipse
become circle.

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[ 1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Coordinates of focii of 9x2 – 16y2 = 144 are:
(a)(3, 0); (–3, 0) (b)(4, 0); (–4, 0)
(c) (5, 0); (–5, 0) (d)(12, 0); (–12, 0) [Diksha]
Ans. (c) (5, 0); (–5, 0)
Explanation: Given, 9x2 – 16y2 = 144
9x 2 16y2
− =1
144 144

x 2 y2
−
16 9
= 1
2
a = 16
b2 = 9
c= ± 5
So coordinate of focii is (± c, 0)
i.e., (± 5, 0)

Assertion Reason Questions

Direction: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed
by a statement of Reason (R).
Choose the correct answer out of the following choices.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
2. Assertion (A):The length of major and minor axes of the ellipse 5x2 +
9y2 – 54y + 36 = 0 are 6 and, 10, respectively.
Reason (R):The equation 5x2 + 9y2 – 54y+ 36 = 0 can be expressed as
5x2+ 9(y – 3)2 = 45.
Ans. (d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
Explanation: We have,

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 5x2 + 9y2 – 54y + 36 =0
⇒ 5x2 + 9(y – 3)2 = 45
x2 ( y − 3)2
⇒ + =1
32 ( 5 )2

∴ Length of major axis = 2 × 3 = 6

And length of minor axis = 2 × 5 = 2 5

VERY SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (VSA)

[ 1 mark ]

3. If the eccentricity of the ellipse is zero. Then show that ellipse will be a
circle. [Delhi Gov. QB 2022]
Ans. Given, e = 0
b2 = a2(1 – e2) or a2 = b2(1 – e2)
b2 = a2 a2 = b2
x2 y2
\ 2
+ =1
a b2
2 2
x2 + y2 = 1
a a

x + y2 = a2
2

Which is the equation of a circle which centre (0, 0) and radius = a.

Hence, proved.

SHORT ANSWER Type-I Questions (SA-I)

[ 2 marks ]

4. Find the eccentricity of the hyperbola whose latus rectum is 8 and

conjugate axis is equal to half of the distance between the foci.
[Delhi Gov. QB 2022]
Ans. Given that the length of the latus rectum is 8 and length of the conjugate
axis is equal to half the distance between the foci.
2b2 1
⇒ = 8 and 2b = (2ae)
a 2

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 2
2  ae 
∴   =8
a 2 

⇒ ae2 = 16 ...(i)
2
We have 2b = 8
a

⇒ b2 = 4a
⇒ a2(e2 – 1) = 4a
2
⇒ ae – a = 4
⇒ 16 – a = 4 [by (i)]
⇒ a = 12
Substitute a = 12 in (i)
⇒ 12e2 = 16
⇒ e2 = 4
3
2
∴ e=
3

LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)

[ 4 & 5 marks ]

5. Find the equation of the ellipse centre is at origin and the major axis,
which passes through the points (–3, 1) and (2, –2).
 [NCERT Exemplar]
2 2
x y
Ans. As origin is the centre of ellipse, so 2
+ =1 be the equation of ellipse.
a b2

Since, this ellipse passes through (–3, 1) and(2, – 2) so,

9 1 4 4
2
+
2
=1 and 2
+ =1
a b a b2
9 1 1 1 1
⇒ 2
+
2
=1 and 2
+
2
=
4
a b a b
8 3 32
which gives 2
=
4
⇒ a2 =
3
a

⇒ 8
=
3
⇒ a2 =
32
a 2 4 3

1 9 9
27 5
And =1− =1− = =1−
b a2 32 32 32
2

1 9 9 327 5
=1− =1− =1− =
b2
a2 32 32 32
3

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 1 9 9 27 5
=1− =1− =1− =
2
b 2
a 32 32 32
3 32
⇒ b2 =
5

Hence, equation of ellipse is

x 2 y2
+ = 1 ⇒ 3 x 2 + 5y2 = 32.
32 32
3 5
2 2
⇒ 3x + 5y = 32.

14 Mathematics Class XI