ELLIPSE, HYPERBOLA AND PARABOLA

ELLIPSE

Concept Equation Example

Ellipse with Standard equation with a > b > 0 2 2
x + y = 1; a = 3. b = 2
Center (0, 0) 4 9
Horizontal major axis: Center (0, 0); major axis: vertical
x2 y2 Vertices: (0, ±3); foci: ( 0, ± √5)
+ =1 (c2 = a 2 – b2 = 9 – 4 = 5, so c = √5.)
a2 b2 y
Vertical major axis V1(0,3)
x2 + y2 = 1 F1 (0,√5)
x
b2 a2 -3 3
F 2(0,-√5)
V 2(0,-3)

Ellipse with Standard equation with a > b > 0 (x – 1)2 + (y + 1)2 = 1; a = 3. b = 2

center (h, k) 4 9
Horizontal major axis: y
5
(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = 1 V1(1,2)
a2 b2 F1(-1,-1+√5)
x
Vertical major axis -3 5
2 2 F2(1,-1-√5)
(x – h) + (y – k) =1 V2 (1,-4)
b2 a2 -5

Circle with Standard equation (x – 2) 2 + (y + 2) 2 = 9

center (h, k)
and radius r (x – h) 2 + (y – k) 2 = r2 Center: (2, -2); radius: r = 3
y
A circle is an ellipse with 5
a = b = r.
x
-5 5
(2, -2)
-5

Area inside an A = ab The area inside the ellipse give by

ellipse x2 + y2 = 1 is
49 9

A = (7)(3) = 21square units.

11/11/04 bh 113 Page 1

HYPERBOLA

Concept Equation Example

Hyperbola with Standard equation 2 2
x - y = 1; a = 2. b = 3
center (0, 0) 4 9
Transverse axis: horizontal
Transverse axis: vertical
2 2
x - y =1
a2 b2 Vertices (0, ± 2); foci: (0, ±√13)

Transverse axis: vertical (c2 = a 2 + b2 = 4 + 9 = 13, so c = √13.)

2
y2 x2 Asymptotes: y = ± x
- =1 3
a2 b2
y
5
(0,√13)
y= 2 x
(0,2) 3
x
-5
(0,-2)
y= - 2 x
3
(0,-√13)

Hyperbola with Standard Equation

center (h, k) (x – 1)2 - (y + 1)2 = 1; a = 2. b = 3
Transverse axis: horizontal 4 9
Transverse axis: horizontal; center (1, -1)
(x – h)2 - (y – k)2 = 1
a2 b2
Vertices (1 ± 2, - 1); foci: (1 ± √13, - 1)

Transverse axis: vertical (c2 = a 2 + b2 = 4 + 9 = 13, so c = √13.)

(y – k)2 - (x – h)2 = 1
Asymptotes: y = ± 3 (x – 1) - 1
a2 b2 2
y
5 3
y = - 3 (x – 1) -1 y=+
2
(x – 1) -1
2

(-1,-1)
x
-5
(1-√13,-1) (1+√13,-1)
(3,-1)

11/11/04 bh 113 Page 2

PARABOLAS

Parabola Vertex (0, 0)

Concept Equation Example

Parabola with x2 = 4py x = - 2y has 4p = - 2 or p = - 12
2
vertex (0, 0)
and vertical axis p > 0: opens upward The parabola opens downward with
vertex (0, 0), focus (0, - 12 ), and
p < 0: opens downward directrix y = 12 y
Focus: (0, p)
1
y= 1
2
Directrix: y = - p
V(0,0) x
x2 = - 2y
1
F(0,- )
2
-1

Parabola with y2 = 4px y2 = 4x has 4p = 4 or p = 1

vertex (0, 0) and
horizontal axis p > 0: opens to the right The parabola opens to he right with
vertex (0, 0), focus (1, 0), and directrix
p < 0: opens to the left x=-1
Focus: (p, 0) y
5
Directrix: x = - p y2 = 4x

V(0,0) F(1,0)
x
-5
x = -1

11/11/04 bh 113 Page 3

Parabola Vertex (h, k)

Concept Equation Example

Parabola with 2 2
( y – k) = 4p(x –h) (y + 1) = - 2(x + 2) has p = - 12
vertex (h, k)
and horizontal axis p > 0: opens to the right The parabola opens to the left with
vertex (-2, - 1), focus (- 52, -1), and
p < 0: opens to the left directrix x = - 32

Focus: (h + p, k) y

2
Directrix: x = h - p (y + 1) = - 2(x + 2)

x
F(-5 , -1) V(-2,-1) 5
2

y= -3 -5
2

Parabola with (x – h)2 = 4p(y – k) (x – 1)2 = 8(y – 3) has p = 2.

vertex (h, k) and
vertical axis p > 0: opens upwards The parabola opens upward with
vertex (1, 3), focus (1, 5), and
p < 0: opens downwards directrix y = 1.

Focus: (h, k + p) y
(x – 1)2 = 8(y – 3)
Directrix: y = k - p 6 F(1,5)
4
y= 1 V(1,3)
x
-6 -4-2 2 4 6

11/11/04 bh 113 Page 4