HYPERBOLA

Objective/s:
• Define a hyperbola
• Determine the standard form of the equation of a hyperbola
• Graph a hyperbola in a rectangular coordinate system
• Solve situational problems involving hyperbola

Definition of Terms:

Hyperbola → is the locus of all points in the plane the absolute difference of whose distances from two fixed points,
𝐹1 and 𝐹2 , is a constant.
Foci → two fixed points (two foci), denoted by 𝐹1 and 𝐹2
Center → the midpoint of the segment between the foci, transverse axis and the conjugate axis
Principal Axis → the line that passes through the foci which hits the hyperbola at exactly two points
Vertex → the point of intersection of the principal axis with the hyperbola. Note that there are two vertices
Transverse Axis → the segment between the vertices; its length is 2a
Conjugate Axis → the segment whose endpoints are not on the hyperbola, perpendicularly bisecting the transverse axis; its
length is 2b
→ the segment between the foci has length 2c
Auxiliary Box/Rectangle → a box or rectangle whose sides are perpendicularly bisected by the transverse axis and conjugate axis,
essential in sketching the linear asymptotes of the hyperbola
Linear Asymptotes →the line where the graph of the hyperbola tends to go nearer but doesn’t touch, essential in graphing the
hyperbola.
Branches of the hyperbola
Transverse Axis

Auxiliary Rectangle
Endpoints of the
Conjugate Axis

Focus
Linear Asymptotes

Conjugate Axis
Vertex

|𝑑1 − 𝑑2 | = 𝑑 for all (𝑥, 𝑦) on the hyperbola

In order to derive the standard equation of a hyperbola, we assume that the hyperbola has its center at (0,0), its transverse axis along
the x-axis, and has foci(𝑐, 0) and (−𝑐, 0) and vertices (−𝑎, 0) and (𝑎, 0).
Note that since (𝑎, 0) is a point on the hyperbola, it must satisfy the definition of a hyperbola. That is, the absolute difference of the
distance from (−𝑐, 0) to (𝑎, 0) and the distance from (𝑐, 0) to (𝑎, 0) must equal to the fixed distance d. Since all of these points lie on
the x-axis, we get

|√(𝑎 + 𝑐)2 + (0 − 0)2 − √(𝑐 − 𝑎)2 + (0 − 0)2 | = 𝑑

|√(𝑎 + 𝑐)2 − √(𝑐 − 𝑎)2 | = 𝑑
|𝑎 + 𝑐 − 𝑐 − 𝑎| = 𝑑
2𝑎 = 𝑑
Take note that 𝑐 > 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏, therefore, 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 .
In finding a, 𝑎 = √𝑐 2 − 𝑏 2. In finding b, 𝑏 = √𝑐 2 − 𝑎2 . In finding c, 𝑐 = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2.
Unlike the ellipse, the length of 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 don’t matter. To distinguish 𝑎 from 𝑏, the number a must always together with the positive
term.

Types of Hyperbola

1. Horizontal Hyperbola
(𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
- has the equation in standard form − = 𝟏 where (ℎ, 𝑘) is the center
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐
𝟐
- x is in the positive term so its denominator is 𝒂
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
- if the center is at (0,0) then the equation in standard form is − 𝒃𝟐 = 𝟏
𝒂𝟐
- Center : (ℎ, 𝑘)
- Vertices : (ℎ ± 𝑎, 𝑘)
- Endpoints of the Conjugate Axis : (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑏)
- Foci : (ℎ ± 𝑐, 𝑘)

2. Vertical Ellipse
(𝒚−𝒌)𝟐 (𝒙−𝒉)𝟐
- has the equation in standard form − = 𝟏 where (ℎ, 𝑘) is the center
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐
𝟐
- y is in the positive term so its denominator is 𝒂
𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐
- if the center is at (0,0) then the equation in standard form is − 𝒃𝟐 = 𝟏
𝒂𝟐
- Center : (ℎ, 𝑘)
- Vertices : (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑎)
- Endpoints of the Conjugate Axis : (ℎ ± 𝑏, 𝑘)
- Foci : (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑐)

Example 1:

Sketch the hyperbola given the equation −6𝑥 2 + 5𝑦 2 − 24𝑥 + 40𝑦 + 26 = 0. Identify its center, vertices, endpoints of the conjugate
axis and foci.

Solution:

−6𝑥 2 + 5𝑦 2 − 24𝑥 + 40𝑦 + 26 = 0

−6𝑥 2 − 24𝑥 + 5𝑦 2 + 40𝑦 = −26 Group those terms with the same variables
−6(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥) + 5(𝑦 2 + 8𝑦) = −26 Factor out the leading coefficient of −6𝑥 2 − 24𝑥 which is -6 and
the leading coefficient of 5𝑦 2 + 40𝑦 which is 5
To perform Completing the Square, the leading coefficient
must be equal to 1
−6(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4) + 5(𝑦 2 + 8𝑦 + 16) = −26 − 24 + 80 Completing the Square and Properties of Equalities
−6(𝑥 + 2)2 + 5(𝑦 + 4)2 = 30 Factoring
−6(𝑥+2)2 +5(𝑦+4)2 30
= Dividing the whole equation by 30 to obtain 1 on the right side of the equation
30 30
(𝑥+2)2 (𝑦+4)2
− + =1
5 6

(𝑦+4)2 (𝑥+2)2
− =1 The equation of the hyperbola in standard form
6 5
Having the equation given above, this hyperbola is a vertical hyperbola because y is in the positive term. So, = √6, 𝑏 = √5 and 𝑐 = √11.

Center : (ℎ, 𝑘)
: (−2, −4)
Vertices : (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑎) → (−2, −4 ± √6)
: (−2, −4 + √6) and (−2, −4 − √6)
Endpoints of the Conjugate Axis : (ℎ ± 𝑏, 𝑘) → (−2 ± √5, −4)
: (−2 + √5, −4) and (−2 − √5, −4)
Foci : (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑐) → (−2, −4 ± √11)
: (−2, −4 + √11) and (−2, −4 − √11)
 (𝒚 + 𝟒)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐
− =𝟏
𝟔 𝟓

(-2,-4+√𝟏𝟏)

(-2,-4+√𝟔)

(-2-√𝟓,-4) (-2,-4) (-2+√𝟓,-4)

(-2,-4-√𝟔)

(-2,-4-√𝟏𝟏)

Example 2:

Find the equation of the hyperbola given the vertices at (3,2) and (13,2); endpoints of the conjugate axis at (8,4) and (8,0).

Solution:

Note: Like the ellipse, the important components in determining the equation of the hyperbola are its center and the values of 𝒂𝟐 and
𝒃𝟐 .

Since the y-coordinates of the vertices are the same, we can say that the hyperbola is a horizontal hyperbola. We have to obtain an
(𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
equation of this form − = 𝟏. From our discussion, we have learned that the midpoint of the vertices and the
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐
endpoints of the conjugate axis is the center of the hyperbola. By the midpoint formula, the center of the hyperbola is (𝟖, 𝟐).
We already have the center at (8,2), given the vertex at (3,2), so 𝒂 (the distance from the center to the vertex) is equal to 5 therefore
𝒂𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓. Now, we need to know the value of 𝒃𝟐 . Given the endpoint of the conjugate axis at (8,4), then 𝒃 (the distance from the
center to the endpoint of the conjugate axis) is equal to 2, then 𝒃𝟐 = 𝟒. Therefore, the equation of the hyperbola is:

(𝑥 − 8)2 (𝑦 − 2)2
− = 1.
25 4

Example:
An explosion is heard by two stations 1200 m apart, located at 𝐹1 (−600,0) and 𝐹2 (600,0). If the explosion was heard in 𝐹1
two seconds before it was heard in 𝐹2 , identify the possible locations of explosion. Use 340 m/s as the speed of sound.
 Solution:

Using the given speed of sound, we deduce that the sound traveled
340(2) = 680 m farther in reaching F2 than in reaching F1. This is
then the difference of the distances of the explosion from the two
stations. Thus, the explosion is on a hyperbola with foci are F1 and
F2, on the branch closer to F1.

We have c = 600 and 2a = 680, so a = 340 and b2 = c2 − a2 =

244400.
The explosion could therefore be anywhere on the left branch of the
hyperbola

𝑥2 𝑦2
− =1
115600 244400

References:

Teaching Guide for Senior High School Precalculus (Commission on Higher Education)

Precalculus Version [𝜋] = 3, Corrected Edition