Introduction to Quadratic Surfaces

Todd Thomas

University of Arkansas
tjt001@uark.edu

3 December 2013

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 Overview

1 A Quick Review of Conic Sections

Equations of Conic Sections
Origins of Conic Sections
2 Definition of a Quadratic Surface
The General Form of the Equation
Classification of Quadratic Surfaces
3 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces
Characterization of Quadratic Surfaces
Ellipsoid
Hyperboloids
Elliptic Cones
Paraboloids
Quadric Cylinders

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 A Quick Review of Conic Sections Equations of Conic Sections

A Quick Review of Conic Sections

In order for Quadratic Surfaces to make more sense, we need to

familiarize ourselves with a review of parabola, hyperbola, and ellipse.

Parabola: y = ax 2 or x = ay 2

x2 y2
Ellipse: + 2 =1
a2 b

x2 y2 y2 x2
Hyperbola: − = 1 or + 2 =1
a2 b2 b2 a

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 A Quick Review of Conic Sections Origins of Conic Sections

Figure : The Origins of Conic Sections

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 A Quick Review of Conic Sections Origins of Conic Sections

Quadratic Surfaces

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 Definition of a Quadratic Surface The General Form of the Equation

Definition of a Quadratic Surface

Definition (Quadratic Surface)

A quadratic surface is the graph of a second degree equation in three
variables. The general form of such an equation is given by

Ax 2 + By 2 + Cz 2 + Dxy + Exz + Fyz + Gx + Hy + Iz + J

Where A, B, C , ..., J are constants

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 Definition of a Quadratic Surface Classification of Quadratic Surfaces

Classification of Quadratic Surfaces

Quadratic surfaces can be classified into five categories: ellipsoids,

hyperboloids, cones, and quadric cylinders. In this part of the
presentation we will learn how to identify them.

Quadratic Surfaces are the 3-D equivalent of conic sections in the

plane.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Characterization of Quadratic Surfaces

Elements of Characterization

Standard Equation
The equation in its most general form.

Traces
They are the curves of intersections of the surface with planes parallel to
the coordinate plane.

Intercepts
They are the points of intersection of the surface with the coordinate axes

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Characterization of Quadratic Surfaces

Discussion of Quadratic Surfaces

Earlier we said that we can classify Quadratic Surfaces into five

categories. If we include subdivisions within categories,then we
actually have a total of 9 categories.

In order to understand what subcategory the Quadratic Surface falls

into we must be able to write the equation into its standard from.
This often requires us to recall how to complete the square.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Ellipsoid

The Ellipsoid is the three dimensional equivalent of an ellipse in two

dimensions.

Figure : The Ellipsoid

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Ellipsoid

The General Equation, Traces, and Intersections

The traces of ellipsoids are ellipses

as seen in the previous figure. If we
try to find the intersection of an
1 The standard form of the ellipsoid with the plane parallel to
ellipsoid’s equation is given by the xy -plane, that is the plane with
x2 y2 z2 equation z = k for some number k
+ 2 + 2 =r we obtain
a2 b c
x2 y2 k2
+ = r −
2 The intercepts of ellipsoids are a2 b2 c2
(±a, 0, 0); (0. ± b, 0); (0, 0, ±c). which is an ellipse as long as
−c < k < c. If k > c or k < −c,
the two do not intersect.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Hyperboloids

Hperboloid of One Sheet

Depending on how many pieces the surface has, there can be two types of
hyperboloids. The first is called a Hyperboloid of One Sheet.

Figure : A Hyperboloid of one Sheet

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Hyperboloids

General Equaitons, Traces, and Intercepts

1 The standard form of the 1 The intersection with planes

Hyperboloid of One Sheet’s parallel of the axis of the
equation is given by hyperboloid are hyperbolas.
x2 y2 z2
+ 2 − 2 = r.
a2 b c
2 In general, the axis of a
hyperboloid of one sheet is the
2 The axis of the paraboloid is the
axis corresponding to the
z axis. The intersection of the
variable having the minus sign.
paraboloid with planes
Let z = k then
perpendicular to the axis of the
hyperboloid (the xy axis in this x2 y2 k2
+ = r +
case ) are ellipses a2 b2 c2

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Hyperboloids

Different Aspects of the Hyperboloid

Figure : The intersection of the coordinate yz or xz plane with a hyperboloid of

one sheet.

y2 z2 k2
If we let x = k then − = r − gives us the equation of a hyperbola.
b2 c2 a2
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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Hyperboloids

Hyperboloid of Two Sheets

Figure : A hyperboloid of two sheets.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Hyperboloids

1 The standard form of the Hyperboloid of Two Sheet’s equation is

x2 y2 z2
given by 2 − 2 − 2 = r .
a b c

2 The axis of the paraboloid is the axis corresponding to the variable

that does not have the negative sign in front of it. The intersection of
the paraboloid with a plane parallel to its axis is a hyperbola. A plane
perpendicular to the hyperboloid’s axis is an ellipse when it exists.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Elliptic Cones

Elliptic Cones

Figure : An Elliptic Cone

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Elliptic Cones

General Equaitons, Traces, and Intercepts

1 The general equation of an Elliptic Cone is given by:

x2 y2 z2
+ =
a2 b2 c2
2 The axis of the cone corresponds to the variable on the right hand side
of the equation. In the above case it would be the z-axis.

3 The intersection of an Elliptic Cone with a plane perpendicular to its

axis is an Ellipse. The intersection of a plane parallel to its axis is
either a hyperbola (if the plane does not contain the origin) or a pair
of lines(if the plane contains the origin).

4 The surface of a cone has the property that if P is any point on the
¯ lies entirely on the cone.
cone, then the line segment OP

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Elliptic Cones

Paraboloids

If we start with the equation for an elliptic cone, and remove the second
power on the variables on the right hand side, then we obtain paraboloids.
They type of paraboloid depends on whether or not we have a negative
sign on one of our variables.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Elliptic Cones

Elliptic Paraboloids

If no negative signs exists on any variable then we have an Elliptic

Paraboloid.

x2 y2 z
1 Standard Equation + 2 =
a2 b c
2 The axis along which a paraboloid
extends corresponds to the variable
of the first degree.
3 The intersection it makes with a
plane perpendicular to its axis is an
ellipse.
4 All other traces (provided they exist)
are parabolas.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Elliptic Cones

Hyperbolic Paraboloids

If one negative signs exists on any variable then we have an Hyperbolic

Paraboloid, also called a saddle.

x2 y2 z
1 Standard Equation − 2 =
a2 b c
2 The intersection it makes with a
plane parallel to the xy -plane is a
hyperbola.
3 All other traces (provided they exist)
are parabolas.

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Quadric Cylinders

Quadric Cylinders

Quadric Cylinders can be subdivided into three different subcategories:

1 The Elliptic Cylinder

2 The Hyperbolic Cylinder
3 The Parabolic Cylinder

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Quadric Cylinders

Elliptic Cylinder

x2 y2
1 Standard Equation + 2 =1
a2 b
2 Its axis is the z-axis, the axis
corresponding the variable (x, y , z)
missing from the equation.
3 The trace corresponds to the plane
containing the two variables present
in the equation and forms an ellipse .

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Quadric Cylinders

Hyperbolic Cylinder

x2 y2
1 Standard Equation − 2 =1
a2 b
2 Its axis is the z-axis, the axis
corresponding the variable (x, y , z)
missing from the equation.
3 The trace corresponds to the plane
containing the two variables present
in the equation and forms an
hyperbola .

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 Classification of Quadratic Surfaces Quadric Cylinders

Parabolic Cylinder

1 Standard Equation y = az 2
2 It appers to be wrapped around the
axis corresponding the variable
(x, y , z) missing from the equation.
3 The trace corresponds to the
intersection with the xy -plane, the
plane containing the two variable
present in the equation, forms a
parabola .

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