1 Quadrics

A quadric is a set of points in space whose coordinates (r, j, .) are related by

a second degree equation:
a
11
r
2
+a
22
j
2
+a
33
.
2
+2a
12
rj+2a
13
r.+2a
23
j.+2a
14
r+2a
24
j+2a
34
.+a
44
= 0.
1.1 The Sphere
The sphere is dened as the locus of points in space situated at the same distance
1 0 (called the radius) from a xed point .(a, /, c), called center.
Let 1(r, j, .) denote an arbitrary point of the sphere.
The fact that the distance

.1

is always 1 is written, after eliminating

the square root:
(r a)
2
+ (j /)
2
+ (. c)
2
= 1
2
(1)
(the equation of the sphere with center .(a, /, c) and radius 1). Hence,
the sphere is a quadric.
If we perform the computations in the above equation, we obtain a relation
of type:
r
2
+j
2
+.
2
+:r +:j +j. + = 0, (2)
(where : = 2a, : = 2/, j = 2c, = a
2
+/
2
+c
2
1
2
), which is called the
general equation of a sphere.
This is, any equation of a sphere looks like above. The converse is not true,
this is, not any equation of type (2) is the equation of a sphere. This can be
checked by bringing the equation (2) to the form (1).
Examples:
1
1. The equation r
2
+j
2
+.
2
2r + 4j 4 = 0 can be written as:
(r
2
2r + 1) 1 + (j
2
+ 4j + 4) 4 +.
2
4 = 0,
this is
(r 1)
2
+ (j + 2)
2
+.
2
= 9.
Hence, it represents the sphere of center .(1, 2, 0) and radius 1 = 3.
2. The equation: r
2
+j
2
+.
2
2r +4j +6 = 0 becomes, after grouping the
squares
(r 1)
2
+ (j + 2)
2
+.
2
= 1,
this is, it cannot represent a sphere, since 1
2
= 1 has no real solutions.
Another way of describing the sphere of center .(a, /, c) and radius 1 is by
its parametric equations:
8
<
:
r = a +1cos csin0
j = / +1sincsin0
. = c +1cos 0.
.
In particular, for the sphere having as center the origin O(0, 0, 0) and radius 1,
we get:
8
<
:
r = 1cos csin0
j = 1sincsin0
. = 1cos 0.
The quantities (1, c, 0) are called the spherical coordinates of the point
1(r, j, .).
The tangent plane to the sphere
(o) : r
2
+j
2
+.
2
+:r +:j +j. + = 0, (3)
at one of its points 1(r
0
, j
0
, .
0
) 2 (o), has the equation:
rr
0
+jj
0
+..
0
+:
r +r
0
2
+:
j +j
0
2
+j
. +.
0
2
+ = 0.
Exercise 1 1. Find out if the following equations represent spheres. If so,
indicate the center and the radius:
(a) r
2
+j
2
+.
2
2r + 4j + 4 = 0;
(b) r
2
+j
2
+.
2
2r + 4j + 6 = 0;
(c) r
2
+j
2
+ 4r + 2j + 1 = 0.
2. Determine the sphere which passes through points (1, 0, 0), 1(0, 2, 0),
C(0, 0, 3) and O(0, 0, 0).
2
3. Let (o) : (r 3)
2
+ (j 1)
2
+.
2
= 25 and (1

) be the plane of equation:

(1

) : r +j +. = `, ` 2 R.
(a) For ` = 0, prove that the intersection between the sphere (o) and 1
0
is a circle, and determine the center and the radius of this circle.
(b) Find ` 2 R such that the plane (1

) is tangent to the sphere.

4. Determine the equation of the sphere with center on the Or axis which
passes through (1, 2, 3) and is tangent to the line:
r 1
2
=
j + 3
4
=
.
1
.
1.2 Reduced canonical equations of other quadrics
1.2.1 The ellipsoid
r
2
a
2
+
j
2
/
2
+
.
2
c
2
= 1.
I
The numbers a, /, c 0 are called the semi-axes of the ellipsoid.
Intersections with parallel planes to the planes of coordinates are ellipses,
points or the empty set. In order to convince ourselves,lets take, for instance,
planes which are parallel to (rOj), this is, . = ` : we get
r
2
a
2
+
j
2
/
2
= 1
`
2
c
2
,
which is: an ellipse, if ` 2 (c, c), a point, if ` = c and the empty set if
` 2 R n [c, c].
If the ellipsoid has two equal semi-axes, then it is called a spheroid; if all
its semi-axes are equal, then it is a sphere.
3
1.2.2 The hyperboloid of one sheet
r
2
a
2
+
j
2
/
2

.
2
c
2
= 1
Its intersections with horizontal planes . = ` are ellipses, while the intersec-
tions with planes j = co::t. and r = co::t. are hyperbolas.
The one-sheeted hyperboloid has an interesting property: it is a doubly
ruled surface, this is, such a shape can be built only from rectilinear beams,
and this can be performed in two ways (this is why we say it is "doubly" ruled).
These beams are called the rulings (rectilinear generatrices) of the hyper-
boloid.
In order to obtain the equations of its rulings, let us write the equation of
the hyperboloid this way:
r
2
a
2

.
2
c
2
= 1
j
2
/
2
,
and factor the dierences of squares:

r
a
+
.
c

r
a

.
c

=

1 +
j
/

1
j
/

.
Then,
(G

) :
8
<
:
r
a
+
.
c
= `

1 +
j
/

r
a

.
c

= 1
j
/
,
represents a family of straight lines which are entirely situated on the hyper-
boloid - hence, they are rectilinear generatrices for this surface.
We can also group the terms with opposite signs:
(G

) :
8
<
:
r
a
+
.
c
= j

1
j
/

r
a

.
c

= 1 +
j
/
,
which leads to another family of rulings of the one-sheeted hyperboloid.
We should mention several properties of the lines (G

) and (G

) :
4
Through each point '(r
0
, j
0
, .
0
) of the hyperboloid there is exactly one
generatrix (G

) and one generatrix (G

).
Rulings (G

) obtained for dierent values of ` do not intersect each other

(they are skew lines). The same holds true about rulings (G

).
A notable use of one-sheeted hyperboloids is in cooling towers of power
stations. Such a shape is relatively easy to build and very resistant.
1.2.3 The hyperboloid of two sheets
r
2
a
2
+
j
2
/
2

.
2
c
2
= 1
Sections with planes parallel to (rOj), this is, with . = ` = co::t., are
ellipses, for j`j c, a point for ` = c and the empty set for j`j < c. Sections
with planes j = co::t. and r = co::t. are hyperbolas.
1.2.4 The elliptic paraboloid . =
r
2
a
2
+
j
2
/
2
Sections with planes . = co::t. are ellipses, while sections with j = co::t.
and r = co::t. are parabolas.
5
1.2.5 The hyperbolic paraboloid (the "saddle") . =
r
2
a
2

j
2
/
2
Sections with . = c (const.) are hyperbolas, with the exception of the plane
rOj, where the section consists of two intersecting lines (prove this!). Sections
with r = co::t. and j = co::t. provide parabolas.
The hyperbolic paraboloid is also a doubly ruled surface. Its rulings are
obtained by factoring the right hand side of the equation: . =

r
a
+
j
/

r
a

j
/

and then grouping terms of degree 1:

(G

) :
8
<
:
`

r
a
+
j
/

= .
r
a

j
/
= `
, (G

) :
8
<
:
j

r
a

j
/

= .
r
a
+
j
/
= j
.
Properties:
Through any point of the hyperbolic paraboloid there passes exactly one
ruling (generatrix) (G

) and exactly one ruling (G

).
Dierent rulings belonging to the same family do not intersect each other
(they are skew lines).
6
1.2.6 The elliptic cone
r
2
a
2
+
j
2
/
2

.
2
c
2
= 0
Sections with horizontal planes . = ` 6= 0 are ellipses. For a = /, one gets a
circular cone.
1.2.7 Cylinders
A. the elliptic cylinder
r
2
a
2
+
j
2
/
2
= 1 :
B. the hyperbolic cylinder
r
2
a
2

j
2
/
2
= 1 :
7
C. The parabolic cylinder j
2
= 2jr :
Exercise 2 Find the rulings of the hyperboloid
r
2
4
+ j
2

.
2
9
= 1 through
(2, 0, 0). Determine the angle between these rulings.
Exercise 3 Find the rulings of the hyperbolic paraboloid
r
2
4
j
2
= ., which
are parallel to the plane r +j +. = 3.
8