Chapter II

Parametric Curves and the Calculus of Parametric

Curves
MAT 061 CALCULUS II
Mathematics Department
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
MSU-Gensan

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PLANE CURVES
A plane curve is a curve that lies in a single plane. A plane curve may
be closed or open. Some of the most common open curves are the line,
parabola, and hyperbola, and some of the most common closed curves are
the circle and ellipse. In this chapter, we will discuss the three curves: the
parabola, the ellipse (including the circle as a special case), and the hyperbola.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARABOLA

Definition 2.1. A parabola is the set of

points in a plane equidistant from a
fixed point and a fixed line. The fixed
point is called the focus and the fixed
line is called the directrix.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARABOLA

Theorem 2.2. An equation of the

parabola having its focus at (p, 0) and
as its directrix the line x = −p is
y2 = 4px.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARABOLA

Theorem 2.3. An equation of the

parabola having its focus at (0, p) and
as its directrix the line y = −p is
x2 = 4py.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARABOLA

Theorem 2.4
If (x, y) represents a point P with respect to a given set of axes, and
(x0, y0) is a representation of P after the axes are translated to a new origin
having coordinates (h, k) with respect to the given axes, then
x = x0 + h and y = y0 + k
⇐⇒ x0 = x − h and y0 = y − k.
.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARABOLA

Theorem 2.5
If p is the directed distance from the vertex to the focus, an equation of
the parabola with its vertex at (h, k) and with its axis parallel to the x axis is
(y − k)2 = 4p(x − h).
A parabola with the same vertex and with its axis parallel to the y axis has
for an equation
(x − h)2 = 4p(y − k).

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARABOLA

Theorem 2.6
If in general second-degree equation
Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
B = 0, and either A = 0 and C , 0, then the graph is one of the following: a
parabola, two parallel lines, one line, or the empty set.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ELLIPSE

Definition 2.7. An ellipse is the set of

points in a plane, the sum of whose
distances from two fixed points is a
constant. Each fixed point is called a
focus.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ELLIPSE
Theorem 2.8. If 2a is the constant
referred to in Definition 2.7 and an
ellipse has its foci at (c, 0) and (−c, 0), • If the center of an ellipse is at the point
(h, k) rather that at the origin, and the
then if b2 = a2 − c2, an equation of the principal axis is horizontal, then the
ellipse is equation of the ellipse is of the form
x2 y2 (x − h)2 (y − k)2
2
+ 2 = 1. a 2
+
b2
= 1.
a b
• If the center of an ellipse is at the point
• If an ellipse has its center at the (h, k) rather that at the origin, and the
origin and its principal axis on principal axis is horizontal, then the
the y axis, then an equation of the equation of the ellipse is of the form
ellipse is of the form (y − k)2 (x − h)2
+ = 1.
y2 x2 a 2 b 2

2
+ 2 = 1.
a b
Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II
ELLIPSE

Theorem 2.9
If the general second-degree equation
Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
B = 0 and AC > 0, then the graph is either an ellipse, a point, or the empty
set. In addition, if A = C, the graph is either a circle, a point, or the empty
set.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

HYPERBOLA

Definition 2.10. A hyperbola is the set

of points in a plane, the absolute
value of the difference of whose
distances from two fixed points is a
constant. The two fixed points are
called the foci.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

HYPERBOLA

Theorem 2.11
If 2a is the constant referred to in Definition 2.10 and the hyperbola has
its foci at (c, 0), then if b2 = c2 − a2, an equation of the hyperbola is
x2 y2
2
− 2 = 1.
a b
Theorem 2.12
If the hyperbola has its center at the origin and its principal axis on the
y axis, the equation of the hyperbola is
y2 x2
2
− 2 = 1.
a b

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

HYPERBOLA
Theorem 2.13
The lines
b b
y = x and y = − x
a a
are asymptotes of the hyperbola
x2 y2
2
− 2 = 1.
a b
Theorem 2.14
If the center of the hyperbola is at (h, k) and its principal axis is parallel
to the x axis, the equation of the hyperbola is
(x − h)2 (y − k)2
2
− 2
= 1.
a b

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

HYPERBOLA

Theorem 2.15
If the center of the hyperbola is at (h, k) and its principal axis is parallel
to the y axis, the equation of the hyperbola is
(y − k)2 (x − h)2
2
− 2
= 1.
a b
Theorem 2.16
If in general second-degree equation
Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
B = 0 and AC < 0, then the graph is either a hyperbola or two interesting
lines.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

HYPERBOLA

Theorem 2.17
The graph of the equation
Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
where A and C are not both zero, is either a conic or a degenerate conic; if it
is a conic, then the graph is
i. a parabola if either A = 0 or C = 0, that is, if AC = 0;
ii. an ellipse if A and C have the same sign that is, if AC > 0;
iii. a hyperbola if A and C have opposite signs, that is, if AC < 0.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

If x = f (t) and y = y(t) where t is called a parameter then we say that the
two equations form a set of parametric equations.
The graph of parametric equations is the set of points in the xy-plane which
we get when t takes in all possible values in the domain S of f and g.
The t scale is completely separate and does not appear in the graph.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

 PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS
Examples: Eliminate the parameter and get an equation relating x and y.
Example 1) x = t2 and y = 5t + 3 t -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Solution: x 9 4 1 0 1 4 9
x = t2√ substitute to the 2nd equation y -12 -7 -2 3 8 13 18
t=± x

√
y = 5(± x) + 3
 y − 3 2 √ 2
= (± x)
5
y2 − 6y + 9 = 25x
y2 − 25x − 6y + 9 = 0
(y − 3)2 = 25x ⇒ Parabola opening to the right

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Example 2) x = ln s and y = es

Solution:
x = ln s ⇒ ex = eln s = s
ex
y=e .

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Example 3) x = 4cost and y = sint

Solution:
x2 = 16cos2t and y2 = 16sin2t
x2 + y2 = 16(cos2t + sin2t) = 16
x2 + y2 = 16 ⇒ Circle, r = 4.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS
Example 4) x = −1 + cos2t and y = 2 + 2sin2t

Solution:
x + 1 = cos2t

y = 2 + 2sin2t
√
= 2 + 2 −x2 − 2x
p 2
2
(y − 2) = (2 −x2 − 2x)
y2 − 4y + 4 = 4(−x2 − 2x)
4x2 + y2 + 8x − 4y + 4 = 0 ⇒ Ellipse

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

 PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Example 5) x = t2 + 2t + 3 and y = t2 + t − 1
Solution:

x−y=t+4
t=x−y−4

y = (x − y − 4)2 + (x − y − 4) − 1
= (x − y)2 − 8(x − y) + 16 + (x − y − 4) − 1
0 = x2 − 2xy + y2 − 7x + 6y + 11

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Example 6) x = e2 + e−t and e2 − e−t

   −1
x+y x+y
ln ln
Solution: x=e +e
2 2

x + y = 2et x+y 2
x= +
x+y 2 x+y
= et
2 ! (x + y)2 + 4
x+y =
ln = ln et = t 2(x + y)
2 2x(x + y) = (x + y)2 + 4
x+y
!
t = ln x2 − y2 = 4
2 x2 y2
− = 1 ⇒ Hyperbola
4 4

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Exercises
Eliminate the parameter and get an equation relating x and y.
1) x = 2t, y = −5t
2) x = t, y = 1t
3) x = t − 1, y = t2
4) x = t2 + 2t + 3, y = t2 + t − 1
5) x = 3cosθ, y = 2sinθ
6) x = t2, y = 2 ln t
7) x = 2t2 − 1, y = 3t + 4

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

DERIVATIVES AND PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Theorem. Let x = x(t), y = y(t) be the parametric equations of the curve,

and suppose that curve can also be represented by the rectangular equation
y = f (t) = f (x(t)). Assume that x(t), y(t) and f are differentiable. Then, by
chain rule, we have

! dy
dy dy dx dy dt
= or = dx
(1)
dt dx dt dx dt
provided dx
dt , 0.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

DERIVATIVES AND PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Examples
dy
1. Given the parametric equations x = 4 − t and y = t + 4t, find
2 2
dx without
eliminating t.
Solution:
x = 4 − t2 y = t2 + 4t
dy
dt = −2t dt = 2t + 4
dx

Hence,
dy 2(t+2)
dx = 2t+4
−2t = −2t = − t+2
t .

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

DERIVATIVES AND PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS
Examples
2. Find the equation of the line tangent to the curve
x = t2 − 2, y = t3 − 2t + 1
at the point where t = 2.
Solution:
dy dy 3t2−2
When t = 2, we have x = 2, y = 5. Further, dt = 2t, dt = 3t − 2, and dx =
dx 2
2t .
The slope of the tangent line is
3(2)2 − 2 5
= .
2(2) 2
The equation of the desired line is
5
y − 5 = (x − 2) ⇐⇒ 5x − 2y = 0.
2
Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II
DERIVATIVES AND PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

Exercise
Find an equation of the tangent line to the curve with parametric equations
x = 3t2, y = 2t at t = 1.

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ARCLENGTH
Definition.
If a graph is given by a function such as y = f (x), a ≤ x ≤ b, and if f is
continuous on the interval, then the graph of f is called arc.
Theorem.
Suppose f is a function with a continuous derivative on an interval
containing a ≤ x ≤ b. Then, the length of the arc
C = {(x, y) : a ≤ x ≤ b, y = f (x)}, is given by
Rbp
a
1 + [f 0(x)]2dx.

Theorem.
Suppose that an arc C is given in the parametric form
x = x(t), y = y(t), a ≤ t ≤ b.
Rbp
Formula for arclength: s = a [x0(t)]2 + [y0(t)]2dt
Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II
ARCLENGTH

Example 1
Find the length of arc C given by x = 3cost, y = 3sint, 0 ≤ t ≤ π.
Solution:
x0(t) = −3sint Z π
y0(t) = 3cost s=3 dt
Z π
π0
= 3t
p
∴ s= (−3sint)2 + (3cost)2 dt 0
Z0 π q = 3π units
= 9(sin2t + cos2t) dt
0

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ARCLENGTH
Example 2
Find the length of arc C given by x = t3 and y = 32 t2, 0 ≤ t ≤ 3.
Solution:
R 10 1
x (t) = t s=3 2, u = t2 + 1
0 3 du
1
u 2

y0(t) = 3t du = 2 dt
Z 3 t = 0; u = 1
t = 3; u = 10
p
s= (3t2)2 + (3t)2 dt
Z0 3 √
h 3
i10
= 3 2
2 3u
2
= 9t4 + 9t2 dt 3
1
Z0 3 √ = 10 − 1 2

= 3t t2 + 1 dt
0

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ARCLENGTH
Example 3
9
Given that x = t + 1, y = 2t 2 − 4. Find the length of the arc from the point
3

where t = 1 to the point where t = 3.

Solution: R 244 1
s=9 9
u2 3,
du
u = 19 + t3
x0(t) = 3t2
10
9
7 du = 3t2 dt
y (t) = 9t
0 2
t = 1 : u = 19 + 1 = 10
9
Z 3 q t = 3 : u = 19 + 27 = 244
9
7
s= (3t)2 + (9t 2 )2 dt    244
2 32 
9

Z1 3 √ =3 3 u 
10

= 9t4 + 81t7 dt   3 9   3 
2
1 = 2 2449 − 10 2
9
Z 3r
1 3 2  √ √ 
=9 + t t dt = 27 244 244 − 10 10
2

1 9
Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II
ARCLENGTH
Example 4
Find the length of one arc of a cycloid, given that
x = a(θ − sinθ), y = a(1 − cosθ), 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π.
Solution:
dx
= a(1 − cosθ)
dθ r
2π
θ θ
Z
dy 1 − cosθ
= asinθ s = 2a sin dθ , sin =
dθ 2 2 2
0
θ
2π
2π
= −4a cos 
20
Z q
s= a2(1 − cosθ)2 + a2sin2θ dθ = 8a.
0
Z 2π √
=a 2 − 2cosθ dθ
0

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ARCLENGTH
Example 5
π
y = ln sinx, 4 ≤x≤ 3π
4
Solution:
y = ln sinx
1
y =
0
· cosx = cotx
sinx
Z 3π p   3π4
4
s = −ln cscx + cotx π
s= 1 + cot2x dx
π √ 4
√
= −ln | 2 − 1| + −ln | 2 + 1|.
4
3π
Z
4 √
= csc2x dx
π
4
Z 3π
4
= cscx dx
π
4

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ARCLENGTH

Example 6 
Find the length of arc C = {(x, y) x = t3 and y = 23 t2, 1 ≤ t ≤ 3}.
Solution:
x0(t) = 3t2 R 10 1
y (t) = 3t
0 = 3
2 2 u du,
2

√ √ du = 2t dt
[x (t)] + [y (t)] = 9t + 9t = 3t t + 1
p
0 2 0 2 4 2 2
du
2 = t dt
10
3 2 32 
= 2 · 3u 
Z 3
1
s= 3t(t + 1) dt
2 2
√ 2 √
1
Z 3 = 10 10 − 2 2 units
1
=3 (t + 1) t dt
2 2

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ARCLENGTH
Example 6

t 1 2 3
x 1 8 27
y 32 6 27
2

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II

ARCLENGTH
Exercises
Find the length of arc in each case.
1. y = 41 x2 − 12 ln x, 1 ≤ x ≤ 2
2. y = 16 x3 − 12 x, 1 ≤ x ≤ 3
√
3. y = 36 − x2, 0 ≤ x ≤ 4
3
4. y = 2x 
2, 0 ≤x ≤ 2
5. y = 12 ex + e−x , 0 ≤ x ≤ 2
6. x = 6cost, y = 6sint, π3 ≤ t ≤ π2
2
7. y = x 3 , −8 ≤ x ≤ −2
8. x = 3t2 − 7, y = 2t2 + 3, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2
9. x = e−3t, y = e−2t, 0 ≤ t ≤ ∞

Marchelle Matulac MAT 061 CALCULUS II