SELF-LEARNING SHEET in PRECALCULUS

(First Quarter)

Name: Grade & Section:

Q1W4. Hyperbolas. (STEM_PC11AG-Id-1,Id-2)

Lesson 14: The Hyperbola.

Objectives.
1. Define a hyperbola.
2. Determine the standard form of equation of hyperbola.
Concepts.
A hyperbola is the set of all points P in a plane such that the absolute value of
the difference of the distances from P to two fixed points, F 1 and F 2, is constant. The fixed
points F 1 and F 2 are the foci. The midpoint of the segment F 1 F 2 is the center. r 1∧r 2 are the
focal radii. See Figure A below.

Figure A

The two parts of the hyperbola are branches. Points (a, o) and (-a, o) are vertices,
and the line segment joining them is the transverse axis. The line segment from (o, b) to (o,
-b) is the conjugate [Link] intersection of the transverse and conjugate axes is the center
of the hyperbola. See Figures B and C below.

Figure B (horizontal hyperbola) Figure C (vertical hyperbola)

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 Observe that the hyperbola (refer to Figs. B and C) is symmetric with respect to the origin,
and that the x-axis and y-axis are lines of symmetry. The constant distance, |r 2 −r 1| ,is 2a. The
b −b
branches of the hyperbola approach the lines y = a x and y = a x (for horizontal
b −b
hyperbola) and y = a x and y = a x ( for vertical hyperbola) as |x| increases. These lines
are called asymptotes. A line is a nonvertical asymptote to a curve if the distance between
the curve and the line approaches zero as x increases or decreases without limit.

Take note that,

a = distance from the center to vertex
2a = length of the transverse axis; distance between vertices
b = distance from the center to an endpoint of conjugate axis
2b = length of the conjugate axis
c = distance from the center to focus
2c = distance between foci; and c 2=a2+ b2

For any point on the hyperbola, the absolute value of the difference of its distances from the
foci is 2a. That is, |r 1 −r 2| = 2a.
In the standard equation, aside from being positive, there are no other restrictions on a
and b. In fact, a and b can be even equal. The orientation of the hyperbola is determined by
the variable appearing in the first term (the positive term): the corresponding axis is where
the two branches will open. For example, if the variable in the first term is x (being positive),
the hyperbola is “horizontal”: the transverse axis is horizontal, and the branches open to the
left and right in the direction of the x-axis. If the variable in the first term is y (being
positive), the hyperbola is “vertical”: the transverse axis is vertical, and the branches open
upward and downward in the direction of the y-axis. See Figure D below.

Figure D

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Applications.
Hour glasses, lights produced by lamps, power plant cooling towers, hyperbolic lenses,
Cathedral of Brazilia, a jet breaking the sound barrier, some comets travel in hyperbolic
orbits

Examples.
1. Find the standard equation of the hyperbola whose foci are F 1(0, -10) and F 2(0, 10), such
that for any point on it, the absolute value of the difference of its distances from the foci is
12.

Solution.
Using a graph paper, draw the x- and y- axes. Locate and plot the foci, F 1(0, -10)
x1 + x 2 y 1 + y 2 0+0 −10+10
and F 2(0, 10). The midpoint of F 1 F 2 is M ( , ¿=M(
2
,
2
¿ = M (0,
2 2
0). M is also the center of the hyperbola. Since the foci is positioned verticaly, the hyperbola
is vertical. In fig. D, a vertical hyperbola with center, C(0, 0) is,

y2 x2
− = 1; where c = 10 units; |r 2 −r 1| = 12 = 2a, a = 6 units;
a2 b 2
from c 2=a2+ b2 ; b 2=100−36
(10)2=(6)2+ b2 b 2=64
100 = 36 + b 2 b = 8 units.
hence,
y2 x2 y2 x2
− = 1 ; − = 1 (standard form of equation)
a2 b 2 36 64
y2 x2
− =1
(6)2 (8)2

2. Determine the standard form of equation of the hyperbola in the figure below.
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Solution.
This is a horizontal hyperbola with center, C(-7, -3), a = 4 units and b = 3 units. In Fig.
D, the standard form of equation of a hyperbola with center, C(h, k) is,

(x−h)2 ( y −k )2 (x +7)2 ( y +3)2

− =1 ; − =1 (standard form of equation)
a2 b2 16 9

(x−(−7))2 ( y −(−3))2
− =1
(4)2 (3)2

3. Establish the standard form of equation of a hyperbola with foci (-3, -2) and (15, -2), and a
vertex at (9, -2).

Solution.
Use a graph paper and draw the x- and y- axes. Locate and plot the foci (-3, -2) and (15,
-2) and a vertex at (9, -2). Since the foci are positioned horizontally, the hyperbola is
horizontal. The center is the midpoint of (-3, -2) and (15, -2). Center, C(h, k) = M (
x1 + x 2 y 1 + y 2 −3+15 −2+(−2) 12 −4
, ¿=( , ¿=( , ¿; C(h, k) = C(6, -2). The distance from
2 2 2 2 2 2
the center to focus, c = 9 units, and the distance from the center to vertex, a = 3 units. From
c 2=a2+ b2 ,
( 9 )2 =(3)2 +b2 ; b 2=81−9
81=9+b2 b = √ 72 = 6 √ 2 units
For horizontal hyperbola with center, C(h, k), use,
(x−h)2 ( y −k )2 (x−6)2 ( y +2)2
− =1 (see Fig. D) ; − =1 (standard form of equation)
a2 b2 9 72
(x−6)2 ( y −(−2))2
− =1
(3)2 2
( √72)

4. For the hyperbola9 x 2−16 y 2=144 , find the vertices, the foci, and the asymptotes.

Solution. (you may use a graph paper)

9 x 2−16 y 2=144

9 x 2 16 y 2 144
− = (divide both sides by 144)
144 144 144

x2 y2
− =1 (equivalent standard form of equation)
16 9

Since the first term x is positive, the hyperbola is horizontal with center, C(0,0).
a 2=16 ; c 2 = a 2+b 2
a = 4 units = 4 2 +32 ; c = 5 units
 b 2=¿ 9 = 16+9 Page 4
2
b = 3 units c =2
Thus,
Vertices: (4, 0) and (-4, 0) ; Foci: (5,0) and (-5,0)

b 3 3
Asymptotes: y = ± x ; y = x and y = - x
a 4 4

The corresponding graph is shown.

TEST YOURSELF.

Write the letter of the correct answer. Score:

A hyperbola has foci (1, 3) and (1, -3), and a vertex (1, 1).

1. Find the standard form of equation of a hyperbola.

−( y −1)2 x2
A. x 2 =1 C. −¿ ( y +1)2 = 1
8 8

−(x−1)2 y2
B. y 2 =1 D. −¿ ( x +1)2 = 1
8 8

2. For any point on the hyperbola, what is the absolute value of the difference of its distances
from the foci?

A. 1 unit B. 2 units C. 3 units D. 4 units

3. Determine the length of the conjugate axis.

A. √ 2 unit B. 2 √2 units C. 3 √ 2 units D. 4 √ 2 units

A hyperbola has an equation 4 x 2−¿9 y 2 = 36.

4. A vertex is at,
A. (3, 0) B. (1, 1) C. (-2, 2) D. (-3, 3) Page 5

5. What are the asymptotes?

5 4 2 1
A. y = ± x B. y = ± x C. y = ± x D. y = ± x
3 3 3 3

rdlapulapu@snhs-shs

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