Additional Examples for

Solving Parabolas
Slides by : Mattheus Marcus Contreras
Purpose of Material

▪ This contains additional examples for

students to prepare for Quiz 1.2 : Parabola.
 Formulas for Parabola
𝟐 𝟐
𝒚−𝒌 = 𝟒𝒑(𝒙 − 𝒉) 𝒙−𝒉 = 𝟒𝒑(𝒚 − 𝒌)
Axis of Symmetry 𝑦 = 𝑘 (horizontal) Axis of Symmetry 𝑥 = ℎ (vertical)
Direction If 4𝑝 is positive, then to the right Direction If 4𝑝 is positive, then upwards
If 4𝑝 is negative, then to the left If 4𝑝 is negative, then downwards
Focal Distance Divide |4p| by 4 = |𝑝| Focal Distance Divide |4p| by 4 = |𝑝|
Focus 𝐹 ℎ + 𝑝 , 𝑘 if to the right Focus 𝐹 ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑝 if upwards
𝐹 ℎ − 𝑝 , 𝑘 if to the left 𝐹 ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑝 if downwards
Directrix 𝑥 = ℎ − |𝑝| if to the right Directrix 𝑦 = 𝑘 − |𝑝| if upwards
𝑥 = ℎ + |𝑝| if to the left 𝑦 = 𝑘 + |𝑝| if downwards
Length of Latus Rectum |4𝑝| Length of Latus Rectum |4𝑝|
Endpoints of Latus If to the right Endpoints of Latus If upwards
Rectum 𝑅1(ℎ + 𝑝 , 𝑘 + 2𝑝 ) Rectum 𝑅1(ℎ + 2𝑝 , 𝑘 + 𝑝 )
𝑅2(ℎ + 𝑝 , 𝑘 − 2𝑝 ) 𝑅2(ℎ − 2𝑝 , 𝑘 + 𝑝 )
If to the left If downwards
𝑅1(ℎ − 𝑝 , 𝑘 + 2𝑝 ) 𝑅1(ℎ + 2𝑝 , 𝑘 − 𝑝 )
𝑅2(ℎ − 𝑝 , 𝑘 − 2𝑝 ) 𝑅2(ℎ − 2𝑝 , 𝑘 − 𝑝 )
 Solving for the Elements of the Parabola

2 1
Solve for the elements of the parabola : 𝑦 + 3 = −56(𝑥 + 2)
Answers:
Axis of Symmetry: horizontal 𝒚 = −𝟑 Directrix: 𝒙 = 𝒉 + |𝒑| = 𝟎. 𝟓 + 𝟏𝟒 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟓
Direction: To the left Length of Latus Rectum: 𝟒𝒑 = 𝟓𝟔
𝟏
Vertex: (− , −𝟑) 𝒐𝒓 (−𝟎. 𝟓, −𝟑) Endpoints of Latus Rectum:
𝟐
𝟓𝟔 𝑹𝟏(𝒉 − 𝒑 , 𝒌 + 𝟐𝒑 )
Focal Distance: 𝒑 = = 𝟏𝟒
𝟒 = 𝑹𝟏(𝟎. 𝟓 − 𝟏𝟒, −𝟑 + 𝟐(𝟏𝟒) ) = 𝑹𝟏(−𝟏𝟑. 𝟒, 𝟐𝟓)
Focus: 𝑭(𝒉 − |𝒑|) = 𝑭(𝟎. 𝟓 − 𝟏𝟒, −𝟑)
𝑹𝟐(𝒉 − 𝒑 , 𝒌 − 𝟐𝒑 )
= 𝑭(−𝟏𝟑. 𝟓, −𝟑) = 𝑹𝟏(𝟎. 𝟓 − 𝟏𝟒, −𝟑 − 𝟐(𝟏𝟒) ) = 𝑹𝟏(−𝟏𝟑. 𝟒, −𝟑𝟏)
 Solving Standard Equation
given Vertex and Focus
Find the standard equation of the parabola whose vertex is at
(−2,3) and its focus is at (4,3)

Solution:
Axis of Symmetry: horizontal 𝑦=3
𝑉(−2,3) 𝐹(4,3)
Focal Distance: |𝑝| = 6
𝐴𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑦𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑦
2
Standard Equation: 𝑦−𝑘 = 4𝑝(𝑥 − ℎ)
2
𝑦−3 = 4(6)(𝑥 − [−2])
2
𝑝 =6 𝑦−3 = 24(𝑥 + 2)
Solving Standard Equation given Vertex
and Directrix

Find the standard equation of the parabola whose vertex is at (−1,3) and
its directrix is 𝑥 = 4
Solution:
Axis of Symmetry: horizontal 𝑦=3

𝑉(−1,3) Focal Distance: |𝑝| = 5

2
Standard Equation: 𝑦−𝑘 = −4𝑝(𝑥 − ℎ)
2
𝑝 =5 𝑦−3 = −4(5)(𝑥 − [−1])
2
𝑦−3 = −20(𝑥 + 1)
𝑥=4
Solving Standard Equation given Vertex,
Axis of Symmetry and a Point

Find the standard equation of parabola whose vertex is at 0,0 , its axis of
symmetry is 𝑥 = 0 and the parabola passes through the point 2,4

Solution: 𝑥−ℎ 2
= 4𝑝(𝑦 − 𝑘) Standard Equation:
2
2−0 = 4𝑝(4 − 0) 𝑥−ℎ 2
= 4𝑝(𝑦 − 𝑘)
𝑥=0 𝑃(2,4) 2
2 = 4𝑝(4)
2
1
4 = 16𝑝 𝑥−0 =4 (𝑦 − 0)
4
𝑉(0,0) 1
p=
4 𝑥2 = 𝑦