Chapter 11

Parametric Equations and

Polar Coordinates

Slide 1
 Lec.6: Lecture Objectives
1. Define the eccentricity of the conics
2. Identify the polar equations of the conics
3. Identify the reflection property of parabolas and
ellipses
4. Know some practical applications of the conics

Spring 2020 Slide 2

 Sec.11.7: Conics in Polar Coordinates
Eccentricity
The eccentricity e is a +ve constant associated with each
conic section and satisfies that

𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒 𝑒 < 1

e ൞ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑒 = 1
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑒 > 1

e indicates the relative positions of the foci and the

vertices from the center

Spring 2020 Slide 3

 Eccentricity

2𝑐 𝑐
e= =
2𝑎 𝑎

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Spring 2020 Slide 5
 Eccentricity
For Ellipse,
x2 y2
2
+ 2
=1
a b

c = a −b 2 2
0ca
c c a 2 − b2
0  1 e= =
a a a

Spring 2020 Slide 6

 Eccentricity
Planet’s Orbit

Spring 2020 Slide 7

 Directrices of an Ellipse
• Therefore, as a parabola has one focus and one
directrix,
an ellipse has 2 foci and 2 directrices.

• Each focus has its own directrix.

• The directrices are 2 lines perpendicular to the major

𝑎
axis, at a distance (± ) from the center.
𝑒

• The same for the hyperbola.

Spring 2020 Slide 8

 Directrices of the Ellipse
𝑥2 𝑦2
For the ellipse: + =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

The equation of the

𝑎
directrices: 𝑥 = ± .
𝑒

It is proved that :
𝑃𝐹
=𝑒
𝑃𝐷

Spring 2020 Slide 9

 Directrices of the Hyperbola
𝑥2 𝑦2
For the hyperbola: − =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
The equation of the
𝑎
directrices: 𝑥 = ± .
𝑒

c a 2 + b2
e= = 1
a a

Note that:
𝑃𝐹
=𝑒
𝑃𝐷
Spring 2020 Slide 10
 Eccentricity

𝑃𝐹
=𝑒
Spring 2020 𝑃𝐷 Slide 11
 Ex. Sketch the curve 9x 2 − 16y 2 = 144

x 2 y2
− =1
16 9
a = 4, b = 3

c = a 2 + b2 = 5
c 5
e= =
a 4
Directrices:
a 16
x= =
e 5

Spring 2020 Slide 12

Ex. Find equation of the hyperbola whose focus is (3,0),
the corresponding directrix is x=1 and eccentricity = 3
PF
=e
PD
(x − 3) 2 + y 2
= 3
x −1

( )
x 2 − 6x + 9 + y 2 = 3 x 2 − 2x + 1
2x 2 − y 2 = 6
x 2 y2
− =1
3 6

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 Axes Shifting
Ex. Sketch the curve 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 − 6𝑦 = 23 indicating all
its properties
2
𝑦−3 =8 𝑥+4
𝑌 = 𝑦 − 3, 𝑋 =𝑥+4
𝑌 2 = 8𝑋
𝑝=2
𝑋, 𝑌 𝑥, 𝑦
Vertex 0,0 −4,3
Focus 2,0 −2,3
Directrix 𝑋 = −2 𝑥 = −6
Slide 14
 Axes Shifting
Ex. Sketch the curve 16𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 − 64𝑥 − 54𝑦 + 1 = 0
indicating all its properties
𝑥−2 2 𝑦−3 2
+ =1
9 16
𝑋2 𝑌2
+ =1
9 16
𝑋 = 𝑥 − 2, 𝑌 =𝑦−3
𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = 3, 𝑐 = 7, 𝑒 = 7/4
𝑋, 𝑌 𝑥, 𝑦
Center 0,0 2,3
Foci 0, ± 7 2,3 ± 7
Directrices 𝑌 = ±16/ 7 𝑦 = 3 ± 16/ 7 Slide 15
 𝑦 − 3 2 𝑥2
− =1
6 3
𝑎 = 6, 𝑏 = 3
𝑐 = 3, 𝑒 = 3/ 6
Center: 0,3
Foci : 0,3 ± 3
Vertices: 0,3 ± 6
Asymptotes: 𝑦 = 3 ± 2𝑥
Directrices: 𝑦 = 3 ±2
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 Conics in Polar Coordinates

𝑃𝐹 = 𝑟
𝑃𝐷 = 𝑘 − 𝐹𝐵
= 𝑘 − 𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
𝑃𝐹
=𝑒
𝑃𝐷
𝑟 = e (𝑘 − 𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 )
Solve for 𝑟 Sun
𝑘𝑒
𝑟=
1 + 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
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Spring 2020 Slide 18
 Standard Polar Equations of Conic Sections
𝑘𝑒 𝑘𝑒
𝑟= 𝑟=
1 + 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 1 − 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

Vertical Directrix to the right Vertical Directrix to the left

Spring 2020 Slide 19
 Standard Polar Equations of Conic Sections
𝑘𝑒 𝑘𝑒
𝑟= 𝑟=
1 + 𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 1 − 𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

horizontal directrix up horizontal directrix down

Spring 2020 Slide 20
 𝑘𝑒 𝑘𝑒
𝑟= 𝑟=
1 + 𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 1 − 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

Spring 2020 Slide 21

 Polar Equations
For Ellipse, k is related to the eccentricity e
𝑘𝑒 and the semimajor axis a
𝑟=
1 + 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
𝑎
𝑘 = − 𝑎𝑒
𝑒
ke = 𝑎 1 − 𝑒 2

𝑎 1 − 𝑒2
𝑟=
1 + 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

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Ex. Find the foci, directrices and vertices in polar form
4
for the curve: 𝑟 =
2 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

2
𝑟=
1
1 − 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

1
𝑒 = , 𝑘𝑒 = 𝑎 1 − 𝑒 2 = 2
2
𝑎 = 8/3, 𝑐 = 4/3, k = 4
8 𝜋
Foci: 0,0 , ,
3 2

Directrices: 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = −4, 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 20/3

−4 𝜋 𝜋
Vertices: ,
3 2
, 4, 2
Slide 23
 Reflection Property of Parabolas
An incoming ray that is parallel to the axis of the
parabola will be reflected to the focus

Spring 2020 Slide 24

 Reflection Property of Parabolas
Proof
y2 = 4px
Tangent line:
𝑦 − 𝑦1 2𝑝
=
𝑥 − 𝑥1 𝑦1
𝑥𝑇 = −𝑥1
𝐹𝑇 = 𝑥1 + 𝑝 = 𝐹𝑃
𝛼=𝛽

Spring 2020 Slide 25

 Applications

Satellite Dish Flash Light

Spring 2020 Slide 26
 Applications: Parabolic Trough
Sun rays are concentrated on tube, which contains a fluid
which is heated to a high temperature
Hot fluid is piped to a heat engine, which can drive
machinery or generate electricity

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 Applications: Solar Cooker

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 Applications: Projectile Motion

This curved path was shown by Galileo to be a parabola.

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 Applications: Suspension Bridges

Golden Gate Bridge Akashi Bridge

San Francisco Japan
USA
Spring 2020 Slide 30
 Reflection Property of Ellipses
When a ray of light originating from one focus
reflects off the inner surface of an ellipse, it always
passes through the other focus

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 Reflection Property of Ellipses

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 Applications: Shock Wave Lithotripter

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