LESSON 4: HYPERBOLA

Objectives:
1. Define a hyperbola.
2. Determine the standard form of equation of a hyperbola.
3. Transform the given equation from standard to general form and vise versa; and
4. Graph a hyperbola in a rectangular coordinate system.

Discussion
-Hyperbola is a type of smooth curve lying in a plane.
-Hyperbola is one of the four kinds of conic sections, formed by the interaction of a plane
and a double cone.
- If the plane intersects both halves of the double cone but does not pass through the apex
of the cones, then the conic is a hyperbola.
- The distance from the center to a vertex is a units. The distance from the center to a focus
is c units.
-There are two axes of symmetry. Transverse axis is a segment of length 2a whose
endpoints are the vertices of the hyperbola. The conjugate axis is a segment of length 2b
units that is perpendicular to the transverse axis at the center.
-The values of a,b and c are related differently for a hyperbola than for an ellipse. For
hyperbola,
c 2=a2+ b2

HYPERBOLA WITH A HORIZONTAL HYPERBOLA WITH A HORIZONTAL

TRANSVERSE AXIS CONJUGATE AXIS
center (h,k) (h,k)
vertices V1 (h-k,a) and V2(h+k,a) V1 (h, k-a) and V2(h, k+a)
foci F1 (h-c,k) and F2 (h+c,k) F1 (h, k-c) and F2 (h, k+c)
Endpoints of
the conjugate (h, k-b) and (h, k+b) (h-b, k) and (h-b, k)
axis
Equation of b a
asymptotes y-k = ± (x-h) y-k = ± (x-h)
a b
Length of
transverse axis 2a units 2a units
Length of 2b units 2b units
conjugate axis

Hyperbola with Horizontal Transverse Axis

(x−h)2 ( y −k )2
− =1
a2 b2

STANDARD FORM
Where a and b are positive real numbers. You can identify a hyperbola with horizontal
transverse axis if its x term is positive.

Example
If the equation is written in general form, we must convert it to standard form.
8x2-y2+96x+208=0

First step is to combine the like terms and transpose 208 to the other side. Or you can also
subtract 208 from 208 the same at the other side of the equal symbol to.
(8x2+96x) –(y2) = 0-208

Second, before completing the square, make sure that a is equal to 1. Since a is 8,
factor it out first. After factoring, you may now start completing the square.
8(x2+96x) –(y2) = -208

Then we can now perform completing the square. And simplify.

8(x2+12x+36) –(y2) = -208 + 288
8(x2+12x+36) –(y2) = 80

Divide both sides with 80 to make it the other side 1.

8(x +6)2−( y 2) 80
=
80 80
Divide to find the denominator.

Therefore, the standard form of the equation is

y2
¿¿ - =1
80

Now, let us find its