Parabola Reference: Advanced Level Pure Mathematics by SL. Green (4 Edition) Chapter V p61 - p71 Paited by Mr. Franeis Hung [ast updated: November 16, 2011 1 Defini of a point P(x, y) moves i n: A parabola is defined as the locus plane so DY point F(a, 0) is equal to the distance from P(x, y) to the x. that the distance from P(x, ») toa the straight line DD” (x = -a) F(a, 0) is called the focus, DD” (x = -a) is called the directrix of the curve M P(xy) O| F(a,0) 2. Equation: D Let M be the foot of the perpendicular from P onto the directrix ))*. Then, by definition, PM = PF xta=y(x—a) +y* x 2av bat +y? 2? + ax +a dax 3. O(0, 0) is called the vertex of the parabola, Obviously, 0(0, 0) lies on the parabola. It is equal distance from F(a, 0) and the directrix x =-a, ie. TO = OF Replace y by 0, then it opens to the right. If a < 0, then it opens to the left yo Pix) | 7 Flag) jo T 7% http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page |Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung Similarly x* = day describes a parabola which open upwards with symmetry axis x = 0, vertex = (0,0), focus /*= (0, a), directrix DD” is y =a. Ifa> 0, x = 4ay Ifa <0, x" = 4ay F(0, 3) Pixy) 5. The latus rectum /.1’is a line perpendicular to the axis of parabola drawn through the focus /* Ify? = 4ax, then LL isx=a y aa a yae Ls > y=2aor-2a Oo} Fta,o) (a, 2a), L’= (a, 2a) 2 2 u LL =\(a-a) +(2a+2ay’ =|4a 6. If the vertex of the parabola is translated to a point M(h, k), then the equation of the parabola (yh = 4a(x -h) The new axis of the parabola is y= k s Fa + h, k) =h-a Example Given y = 4x7 + 6x — 9 ‘The new focu: ‘The new directrix is DD" It can be transformed into the standard equation of a parabola by completing square: Tag Pe http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 2Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung 1 a=—>0, Wh, k) =| — 1670 y=[ It is a parabola which opens upwards, axis of parabola is x+ 3 ef) ( ) The focusisat [-3,- J 3179 44 16) (4° 16) ‘The directrix is at y=— 45-1 —_181 — 4 16 16 Ol eed Latus Rectum LE°= 4x = + mies 16 4 7. Geometric Property Let P, Q be 2 points on the parabola 3” = 4ax. The chord PO is produced to R on DD" Mis the foot of perpendicular drawn from P onto the line DD” K is the foot of perpendicular drawn from Q onto the line DD Join RF, the line joining P, F is produced to meet DD’ at S. PF=PM definition of parabola OF =OK definition of parabola V(-0.75,-14.25) PF _PM a D _ y OF OK M Pp PM _PR (2) +s APMR~AOKR | OK OR PE _PR Dye Compare (1) and (2): Cr = Ge FR =a, ZRES = B, GB) LORF = 0 By sine law, APR, P= 808 gy REG PR sinB ol «e * OF 9 6) Let 2 AFOR, OR sina By (4):(5)=G) > a=B ’.RF is the exterior angle bisector of S 2PFO. D 8. Parametric Equation x=at™ aoe the parametric equations of y? = 4ax, where ¢ is the parameter. y=2at 9. Equation of chord (using parameters) Let A(at,”, 2a), B(ats’, 2a) be 2 points on Y=2at, _2at, ~2at, Then the chord AB is: 7- x-al; tz —aty After simplification, x kw + hy +ann=0 http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 3Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung 10, Tangent As Bat’, 2aty) approaches A(at;’,2an)), the chord AB becomes a tangent, Therefore the equation of tangent at A(aty?,2ah) is x — § + a? = 0 Let P(xo, yo) be a point on the parabola y* = 4ax. Then xo = at’, yy = at. ‘The equation of tangent is x — ty + a? = 0 saxty tx9=0 2a’ 2alx + x0) = yoy X+Xy ) 2 }: this is the equation of tangent at (xo, Ju) / Ju = 4al \ ( It can be proved that the equation of tangent at (xo, yo) 10.12 = day is xox = 4al \ Or, in parametric form at (2at, Suppose y = Ax? + Bx + Cis a parabola, Let P(xo, yo) be a point on the parabola. The slope of tangent at (ts, yo) is given by 2Axy +B Y—¥0 2A +B ¥—% Y= Yo = 2A + BY — (2Axy + Bro V+ Yo = 2y0 + (Axo + Bye — (2Axo + Bro to + yn) = Any? + Bay + C+ (Axo 4 Nery 4 v0 ‘The equation of tangent is 1 Byers) ; 50 + y0) = (Axo += ye +S x9 + C 70 190) = Aro +> e+ 5x0 Oty Ave +3 (etx) +C The rule is: change y’ >40 Pye ae ape +x) from y= Ax? + Br + C. 11. The part of tangent and the directrix subtends a right angle at the focus. Let P(at’, 2af) be a point on the parabola y” = 4av. he tangent at P cuts the directrix DD" at Z, then D Y PFZ = 90° tangent x - ty + at*2=0 /) Plat*2,2at) ty+at=0 Proof: To find Z: |” x+a=0 eee aa) al a ade =i) 2a, 2a” al? = 2 ZF LPF http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 4Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung 12, IfPT'is_a tangent at P, Mis the foot of perpendicular from P on DD”, then PT biseet ZPMF. In the figure, we want to prove that = B. PT:x-1+at=0 DY As PM is parallel to x-axis, M tangarit x - ty + at*2 = 0 9 Plat*22at) tan a= slope of P + iy cl T O} F(a,0) _ Fran fleece ee een Leto T+mm, 1, 2% 1 P-1t 2P-P +1 PHT 7 D stan a= tan B => a= B 13. Ifthe tangent at P cuts the x-axis at 7, then FP = TF. PT:x-1y + ar =0 7 Tis given by letting y= 0 tangent x-ty +at"2=0 x=-ar Peat?2.23t) 2.Tea?, 0) TF=|a+at|=la\(1 +P) PF=y(ar® -a} +(2at? ver a) +(2ar) ro Fe aya (27 414417 =o? +27 +1 =la\(1 +?) “TF = PF 14, Ifthe tangent at P cuts the y-axis at 5, then PSF = 90° PS: x-tyt+at=0 y is given by letting x= 0 tangent: x -ty + at*2 =0 ytar=0 , _/) Plat2,2at) Assume f # 0, y = af => S(0, at) 2at—at at amps xIMgy = s a atl, as —__» a? 1 ©} F(a,0) = o.PSL SF Exercise 1 In the above section, prove that S/* = |a\xPF http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 5Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung 15. Condition for tangeney. Let + my += 0 be a tangent. ‘Then & + my + 2 = Ois proportional tox — 4" + af = 0 eim_n 1 o-t at? mon mie Me eam = am? = ne Let y= mx +c bea tangent with a given slope m, Then mx —y + € 0 is proportional to x — fy + ar? =0 Given a slope m, the equation of tangent is m Example 1 Find the equation and the point of contact of the tangent to the parabola )* = 8x which is parallel to y = ~3y. 2 2 From above, a = 2, m =~3; the equation of tangent is y = -3r-2 => x +1 42-0 a 2 1 Compare it with x— 9 + a? = 0, > 1=—~ 4 A ). 16, The line joining P(ar, 2af) and the focus Fis produced to meet y* = day again at Q. Show that the tangent at P is perpendicular to the tangent at Q and they meet at the direct Suppose the tangents at P and Q meet at 7. y__2at Dy x-a ata 2 2 The point of contact is (ar, 2at) = (=, PF is given by tangent x -ty + at*2=0 | Plat*2.2at) 2we — 2a To find Q: let Q = (an, 2at;) T Ca (at,”) — 2at ol (tn = 42-1 Fla) > * Ph-h- tt +1=0 mh (+ (4) =0 \ (tn + I) =0 =a] q P40, teh; sth +1=0 1 nas D PT. x~ty+ar=0 ¢ xy tat? {s ty +at Px4 ty +a= 0-2) ()+@)d +A +a +A)=0 http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 6Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung (+ Aye +ay=0 v1+P#0-.x+a=0, which is the directrix, PT and QT meet at the directrix. Mpy X Mop PT LOT 17. Given the mid-point K(), 4), to find the equation of chord Suppose the chord through R cuts the parabola at Plat’, 2at)), Oaty, 2a). y P(at1*2,2at1) As Ris the mid point of PO, f= 2a tly (4, + 9) 2 k Sntn=* a _2at, ~2at, alt —ai R(h,k) 2a, -4)_ 2 Ol (hk) ale-@) 44h -F x mpg = 28 ros 2a © POR is y k= (eh) hy —@ = 2ax ~2ah A: 2ax — ky + B — 2ah = 0, this is the equation of Qlat2*2,2at2) chord, given the mid-point R(t, k) Example 2 Find the locus of the mid-points of chords which have slope = tan @ y Let R(h, k) be the mid-point of the chord. Then from the above result, 2ax — ky + # — 2ah=0 2a tan 9 ==" k 2. k= 2a cot 8 a Change (h, k) > (x, y) slope = tan 6 The locus is y = 2a cot ® R(h,k) Itis parallel to x-axis, which is called the diameter Oo * > x F http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 7Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung Example 3 Find the locus of the mid-points of a variable focal chord. y P Let R(h, k) be the mid-point of a focal chord. Then from the above result, 2ax — ky + # - 2ah=0 It passes through F(a, 0) => 2d -2ah+P=0 R(h.k) Change (h, &) > (x,y) The locus is: 2a” ~ Zax + y? = 2a(x — a) which is also a parabola. Fla,o) ” * 18. Normal at P(ar’, 2ar). It is a line which is perpendicular to the tangent at the point of contact. The equation of tangent is x — ty +a? =0 1 slope =* a t ~ slope of the normal = . y — 2ar > equation of the normal is. 2“ — xan > e+ y—2at—at =0 19. If the normal at P(at’, 2af) cuts the x-a To find G, let y=0 te 2at—ar=0 " rr 140, x= 2a+ a? > GQa+ ar, 0) PP =y (a? ~a) +(2a1)? LN = la? +1) } 5 FG =|2a + a? —al=|a\ (P+ 1) | Fea.o) “PR=FG at G, then PF = 20. If Nis the foot of perpendicular from P onto x-axis, then NG = 2ja| y coordinates of N = (at, 0), G = (2a + af’, 0) Plat*2,2at) NG = [2a + af —at| =2\al Oo} FN ox http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 8Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung 21 Example 4 Find the locus of the mid-point of a normal chord to y? = 4ax Let the chord be x2 (n) + Ay tanh =0 It is a normal at A(at?, 2ah): nx + y ~2aty — an? ‘The two equations are proportional: ; BS im = “aon a) “ Let M(to, yu) be the mid-point of chord AB 2a 2A = ty + 1) = a by (1) : 2x0 = a(t? +12), = (ea) = dary? =)" + 4e?y? + 8a* Platt*2,2att) ‘Normal Locus ‘M(x0,y0) Q(at2"2,2at2) Coneyelic points In general, there are at most 4 concyclic points to a parabola. y > The relation between the parameters are + + 6+ 44 = 0 : . [x =at The parametric equation intersects with the y= 2at lo x+y? + 29x + fr te=0 oh « way + at)? + 2g(ar) + 2f2at) + = 0 a't' + (4a + ag)? + (4af+ e= 0 This is an equation in 1 of degree 4, which has at most 4 real FOOtS My, fa fs, fa ‘ It means that the circle intersects the parabola in at most 4 points 2 =o, which is the required condition @ 1 + +6 * t= sum of roots http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 9Parabola Notes Mr. Francis Hung 22. Conormal point y Q. normal 1 normal 3 —_——> To) & x normal 2 connormal point There are at most 3 points at which the normal drawn are concurrent at a point The relation between the parameter of the feet of normals are f) + f+ =0 Equation of normal is a + y — 2at — at’ = 0 Since they meet at (#, &) (say) sat’ + (h—2ayt+k=0 This is an equation in ¢ of degree 3, which has at most 3 real roots in 1. Therefore, there are at most 3 normals concurrent at (/, k) 0 —=0, which is the required condition. a 1 + & + &= sum of roots = http://www. hkedcity.net/ihouse/{h7878/ Page 10