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THE CONIC SECTIONS

General Definition of Conic Sections
– locus (or path) of a point that moves such 𝑑
that the ratio of its distance from a fixed point 𝑓
(focus) and a fixed line (directrix) is constant.

directrix
This constant ratio is called the eccentricity of F
𝑑 𝑓
ANALYTIC the conic.
𝑓
GEOMETRY 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓
𝑒= = =
PARABOLA 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
If 𝑒 = 0, it’s a circle.
If 𝑒 = 1, it’s a parabola.
If 𝑒 < 1, it’s an ellipse.
If 𝑒 > 1, it’s a hyperbola.

PARABOLA Situation 1. For problems 1-5, refer here. Given a parabola whose equation is
𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 9 = 0, find the following:
– locus of a point that moves such that its 𝑦
axis of symmetry 1. vertex
distance from a fixed point called the focus
(a) (-1,2) (b) (1,-2) (c) (-2,1) (d) (2,-1)
is always equal to its distance from a fixed
line called the directrix latus rectum, 4𝑎
focus 𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 4𝑦 − 9
Standard Equations
𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 4𝑦 − 9 + 1
(𝑥 − ℎ) = 4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘) → 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑓
𝑓 𝑥+1 = 4𝑦 − 8
(𝑥 − ℎ) = −4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘) → 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑎 𝑑 𝑥+1 = 4 (𝑦 − 2)
𝑑
𝑎 V(-1,2) 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑!
(𝑦 − 𝑘) = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) → 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝑥 − ℎ) = ±4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
(𝑦 − 𝑘) = −4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) → 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑥
ℎ = −1 𝑘=2
vertex directrix
Note: (ℎ, 𝑘) is the vertex of the parabola. 𝑓 =𝑑 & 𝑓 =𝑑 𝑉(−1, 2)

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Situation 1. For problems 1-5, refer here. Given a parabola whose equation is Situation 1. For problems 1-5, refer here. Given a parabola whose equation is
𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 9 = 0, find the following: 𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 9 = 0, find the following:
2. focus 3. equation of directrix
(a) (-2,2) (b) (-1,1) (c) (0,2) (d) (-1,3) (a) 𝑥 = 1 (b) 𝑦 = 3 (c) 𝑦 = 1 (d) 𝑥 = 3
𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 4𝑦 − 9
(𝑥 − ℎ) = ±4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 4𝑦 − 9 + 1
𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 4𝑦 − 9
F 𝑥+1 = 4𝑦 − 8 F(-1,3) 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 4𝑦 − 9 + 1
𝑎 𝑥+1 = 4 (𝑦 − 2) 𝑎
𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑! 𝑥+1 = 4𝑦 − 8
V(-1,2) (𝑥 − ℎ) = ±4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘) V(-1,2) 𝑎
𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 𝑥+1 = 4 (𝑦 − 2) 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑!
ℎ = −1 𝑘=2 ℎ = −1 𝑘=2
4𝑎 = 4 F [-1, (2 + a)] 4𝑎 = 4 𝑦= 2−𝑎
𝑎=1 F [-1, 3] 𝑎=1 𝑦=1

Situation 1. For problems 1-5, refer here. Given a parabola whose equation is Situation 1. For problems 1-5, refer here. Given a parabola whose equation is
𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 9 = 0, find the following: 𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 9 = 0, find the following:
4. length of latus rectum 5. equation of the axis of symmetry
(a) 1 unit (b) 8 units (c) 4 units (d) 2 units (a) 𝑥 = 1 (b) 𝑥 = -1 (c) 𝑦 = 3 (d) 𝑦 = 2

latus (𝑥 − ℎ) = ±4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
rectum
𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 4𝑦 − 9
F(-1,3) 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 4𝑦 − 9 + 1 F(-1,3)
𝑎 𝑎 𝑥 = −1
𝑥+1 = 4𝑦 − 8
V(-1,2) 𝑎 V(-1,2) 𝑎
𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 𝑥+1 = 4 (𝑦 − 2) 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑! 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥
ℎ = −1 𝑘=2
4𝑎 = 4 𝐿𝑅 = 4𝑎
𝑎=1 𝐿𝑅 = 4 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠 axis of symmetry

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6. Find the equation of the locus of a point which moves so that its distance 6. Find the equation of the locus of a point which moves so that its distance from
from the line x + 4 = 0 is 5 more than its distance from the point (3, 1). the line x + 4 = 0 is 5 more than its distance from the point (3, 1).

d1 = d2 + 5 y
In geometry, a LOCUS is a set of all points
x+4=0 d1 P (x, y)
(commonly, a line, a line segment,
y x – (-4) = √ (x - 3)2 + (y - 1)2 + 5 or x = -4
a curve or a surface), whose location
d1
satisfies or is determined by one or more P (x, y) x -1 = √ (x - 3)2 + (y - 1)2
d2
specified conditions.
d2 (x -1)2 = (x - 3)2 + (y - 1)2
A (3, 1)
x2 - 2x + 1 = x2 - 6x + 9 + (y - 1)2 x
A (3, 1)
x 4x - 8 = (y - 1)2
x+4=0
(y - 1)2 = 4 (x – 2)
or x = -4 In geometry, a LOCUS is a set of all points (commonly,
*LOCUS OF A POINT a line, a line segment, a curve or a surface), whose
location satisfies or is determined by one or more
Parabola that opens to the right specified conditions.

7. A comet from deep space approaches the sun along a parabolic orbit. When the
comet is 100 million miles from the sun, the line joining the sun and the comet f = 100 x 106 miles y axis of parabola
makes an angle of 600 with the axis of the parabola. How close to the sun will the
comet get? 6
y axis of parabola
f = 100 x 10 miles
600 100 x 106 cos 600
focus
600 𝒇
100 x 106 cos 600 d a 𝒆=
focus 𝒅
x
closest for parabola, e = 1
d a position to a
the sun f =d
closest x
position to a directrix
100 x 106 = 2a + 100 x 106 cos 600
the sun
directrix a = 25 x 106 miles

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ANALYTIC GEOMETRY ELLIPSE

Ellipse
= set of points such that the sum of the distances from any point to the
two fixed points (foci) is constant. The constant sum is equal to the
length of the major axis, 2a
= it is a conic section whose eccentricity is less than one (e < 1)

major
P1
axis  P
d2 d3  2
d1
  d4 d1 + d2 = d3 + d4 = d5 + d6 = 2a
F’ F
d5 d6

P3
2a

*Considering Center is at the Origin (0, 0) PROPERTIES: Major Axis parallel to the x-axis: Major Axis parallel to the y-axis:
y 1. Lmajor = 2a
Directrix Directrix
2. Lminor = 2b
d d
3. Latus Rectum = 2b2/a
Minor Axis 4. d = a/e
Major Axis Latus
b Rectum 5. e = c/a (first eccentricity)
 F’ F  6. 2nd e = c/b
 
V’ C V x
b 7. a2 = b2 + c2
where: a > b and a > c
c c 8. Area = πab x2 y2
+ =1
a2 b2 x2 y2
a a 𝑎 +𝑏 + =1
9. Perimeter = 2𝜋 Note: If center is at C(h, k), just change
2 b2 a2
x to (x-h) and y to (y-k).

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Situation 2. For problems 8-14, refer here. Given the equation of a curve to be Situation 2. For problems 8-14, refer here. Given the equation of a curve to be
9𝑥 + 25𝑦 + 54𝑥 − 100𝑦 − 44 = 0. Find: 9𝑥 + 25𝑦 + 54𝑥 − 100𝑦 − 44 = 0. Find:
8. its center 9. its vertices
(a) (-2,3) (b) (-3,2) (c) (2,-3) (d) (3,-2) (a) (-6,2) & (0,2) (b) (-3,7) & (-3,-3) (c) (-8,2) & (2,2) (d) (-3,5) & (-3,-1)
9𝑥 + 54𝑥 + 25𝑦 − 100𝑦 = 44 𝑥+3 𝑦−2
+ =1
9 𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 25 𝑦 − 4𝑦 = 44 𝑎 25 𝑏 9 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙!
9(𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 9 ) + 25 𝑦 − 4𝑦 + 4 = 44 + 9 (9) + 25 (4) ℎ = −3 𝑘=2
C(-3,2) 𝑎=5 𝑏=3
V V
9 𝑥+3 + 25 𝑦 − 2 = 225
225 225 V1 [(-3 + a), 2] V2 [(-3 - a), 2]

𝑥+3 𝑦−2 V1 [2, 2] V2 [-8, 2]

a a
+ =1
25 9 𝐶(−3, 2)
ℎ = −3 𝑘=2

Situation 2. For problems 8-14, refer here. Given the equation of a curve to be Situation 2. For problems 8-14, refer here. Given the equation of a curve to be
9𝑥 + 25𝑦 + 54𝑥 − 100𝑦 − 44 = 0. Find: 9𝑥 + 25𝑦 + 54𝑥 − 100𝑦 − 44 = 0. Find:
10. its foci 11. the equation of the directrices
(a) (-6,2) & (0,2) (b) (-7,2) & (1,2) (c) (-8,2) & (2,2) (d) (-3,6) & (-3,-2) (a) 𝑥 = &𝑥 = (c) 𝑥 = − &𝑥=
𝑥+3 𝑦−2 (b) 𝑥 = − &𝑥 =− (d) 𝑥 = &𝑥=−
+ =1
𝑎 25 𝑏 9 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙! 𝑥 = −3
ℎ = −3 𝑘=2
𝑑 𝑑
ℎ = −3 𝑘=2 𝑎=5 𝑏=3
C(-3,2) 𝑎=5 𝑏=3 𝑐=4
V F F V

5 =3 +𝑐 C(-3,2) 𝑎 𝑎 5 25
𝑎 =𝑏 +𝑐 V F F V 𝑑= = = =
𝑐=4 𝑒 𝑐/𝑎 4/5 4
c c
F1 [(-3 + c), 2] F2 [(-3 - c), 2] 37 13
𝑥 =− 𝑥 =
F1 [1, 2] F2 [-7, 2] 25 37 25 13 4 4
𝑥 = −3 − = − 𝑥 = −3 + =
4 4 4 4

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Situation 2. For problems 8-14, refer here. Given the equation of a curve to be Situation 2. For problems 8-14, refer here. Given the equation of a curve to be
9𝑥 + 25𝑦 + 54𝑥 − 100𝑦 − 44 = 0. Find: 9𝑥 + 25𝑦 + 54𝑥 − 100𝑦 − 44 = 0. Find:
12. the length of latus rectum 13. its perimeter
(a) 6.4 units (b) 4.5 units (c) 5.7 units (d) 3.6 units (a) 25.9 units (b) 25.4 units (c) 26.4 units (d) 26.9 units

𝑎=5 𝑏=3
𝑎=5 𝑏=3
𝑎 + 𝑏
C(-3,2) 2𝑏 2 3 C(-3,2)
𝑃 = 2π
V F F V 𝐿𝑅 = = V F F V 2
𝑎 5

𝐿𝑅 = 3.6 units 5 + 3
𝑃 = 2π = 25.91 units
2

Situation 2. For problems 8-14, refer here. Given the equation of a curve to be
15. The distance (center to center) of the moon from the earth varies from
9𝑥 + 25𝑦 + 54𝑥 − 100𝑦 − 44 = 0. Find:
a minimum of 221,463 miles to a maximum of 252,710 miles. Find the
14. its area
eccentricity of the moon’s orbit. y
(a) 12π sq. units (b) 15π sq. units (c) 18π sq. units (d) 9π sq. units

𝑎=5 𝑏=3
minimum maximum
C(-3,2) distance distance
𝐴 = π𝑎𝑏 = π 5 3      x
V F F V V’ C F V
F’

𝐴 = 15π sq. units

221,463 252,710

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y
*APOGEE and PERIGEE - distance from the Earth to the moon.
minimum maximum
APOGEE - is the farthest point from the earth. distance
    distance x
PERIGEE - is the closest point to the earth and it is in this stage that V’ F’ C F V
the moon appears larger.

221,463 252,710
c
a a
c
e=
a c = 237,086.5 - 221,463
2a = 221,463 + 252,710 c = 15,623.5 miles
a = 237,086.5 miles 15,623.5
e= = 0.066
237,086.5