CONIC SECTIONS

Terminology in Conic sections

Conic: It is a locus of point that moves in the plane, such that the ratio of its distance
from a fixed pont to its perpendicular distance from a straight line is always
constant.
Focus: The fixed point is called focus.
Directrix: The fixed straight line is called directrix.
Focal Chord: Any chord passing through the focus is called focal chord.

Latus Rectum: A stright line passing through the focus and perpendicular to the
axis of the section.

Eccentricity: It is defined as,

Distance from the fixed point
Eccentricity, e =
Distance from the fixed straight line

Eccentricity Conic
e=1 Parabola
e<1 Ellipse
e >1 Hyperbola
e=0 Circle
e=∞ Pair of Straight Lines

General Equation of conic sections:

ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
a h g
Case I: Case II:
Δ= h b f
Δ = 0 and Δ = 0 and
ab-h2 = 0, Straight line g f c ab-h2 = 0, Parabola
ab-h2 = 0, Pair of ab-h2 > 0, Ellipse
intersecting ab-h2 < 0, Hyperbola
lines a = b, h = 0, Circle
 Parabola
Equation of Equation of
Equation Graph Focus Length of LR
Directrix axis
Y

y2 = 4ax X' X ( a, 0 ) 4a x = -a y=0

Y'

y2 = -4ax X' X ( -a, 0 ) 4a x=a y=0

Y'

x2 = 4ay ( 0, a ) 4a y = -a x=0
X' X

Y'
Y

X' X

x = -4ay
2 ( 0, -a ) 4a y=a x=0

Y'

Ellipse
Length of Length of
Equation Graph Focus Length of LR
Major Axis Minor Axis
Y

x2 + y = 1
2
X' X (+- ae, 0) 2b2 2a 2b
a2 b2 a
a>b Y'
Y

x2 + y = 1 (0, +- be)
2
X' X
2a2 2b 2a
a2 b2 b
a<b Y'

Hyperbola
Equation of
Equation Graph Focus Length of LR
axis
Y
Major axis
x2 - y = 1
2
2b2 y=0
(+- ae, 0)
a Minor axis
X' X

a2 b 2
Y'
x=0
Y

Major axis
y2 - x2 = 1 2a2 x=0
(0, +- be)
b2 a2
X' X
b Minor axis
y=0
Y'