CONIC SECTIONS

• Circle
• Parabola
• Ellipse
• Hyperbola
FP / DP = e (eccentricity)

When:
e < 1 → ellipse
e = 1 → parabola
e > 1 → hyperbola
e = 0 → definition
fails
e → 0 → ellipse
approaches a circle
 Parabola : Axis on x - axis

O X
F

directrix
y2 = 4cx y2 = -4cx
x + c = √ (x-c)2 + y2

[x + c = √ (x-c)2 + y2] 2

(x + c)2 = (x-c)2 + y2

y2 = 4cx
 Parabola : Axis on y - axis

Y Y
directrix
F O X

O X
directrix

x2 = 4cy x2 = -4cy
 Parabola : Vertex at (h,k)

Y w

v (h,k) u

X
h
 Parabola : Vertex at (h,k)
x=u+h or u=x–h → a.)
y=w+k or w=y–k → b.)

w2 = 4cu
subst. a.) & b.)

(y – k)2 = 4c(x – h) → parallel to x-axis, opening to right

(y – k)2 = -4c(x – h) → parallel to x-axis, opening to left

(x – h)2 = 4c(y – k) → parallel to y-axis, opening upward

(x – h)2 = -4c(y – k) → parallel to y-axis, opening
downward
 Parabola : General Forms

Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0 → Parallel in x – axis

Ax2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0 → Parallel in y – axis

Example: A parabola has a directrix at x = 6, axis at
y = -5, and the latus rectum is equal to 9. Find its
equation.

SOLUTION