CONIC SECTION

Parabola
JEE Mains 2024 ( Jan attempt)
L1 :06-12-2023
Definition and General
Equation of aConic
A conic section or conic is the locus of point, which moves in a plane,
such that its distance from a fixed point is in a constant ratio to its
distance from a fixed line, not passing through the given fixed point.
 directrix
(1) The fixed point S is called focus.
conic
(2) The fixed straight line is called the
directrix. M P (h ,k)
(3) The constant ratio is called
eccentricity of the conic, generally
S
denoted by e.
focus
(4) A line through the focus and
perpendicular to the directrix is called
the axis (or axis of symmetry) of the
conic.
(5) The point of intersection of the conic directrix
with its axis is called its vertex. conic
(6) A chord perpendicular to the axis is
called doubleordinate. M P (h ,k)
In particular, the double ordinate
through the focus is called the latus
rectum. S
focus

Remark
Depending upon the value of e, we get different conics.
(i) e = 1 gives parabola (ii) e > 1 gives hyperbola (iii) 0 < e < 1 gives ellipse
Remark
Depending upon the value of e, we get different conics.
(i) e = 1 gives parabola (ii) e > 1 gives hyperbola (iii) 0 < e < 1 gives ellipse
If we try to find equation of conic with focus at S(α, β), directrix as the
line ax + by + c = 0 and eccentricity e, we get
P (h ,k)

M
S (α, β)

ax + by + c = 0
If we try to find equation of conic with focus at S(α, β), directrix as the
line ax + by + c = 0 and eccentricity e, we get
P (h ,k)
⇒PS2 = e2PM2 that is,
M
S (α, β)

ax + by + c = 0
which on simplification takes the form
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
that is, a general second degree equation in x and y.
 Question!

Q Find the equation of a parabola with focus at (0, 1) and

whose directrix is 3x + 4y + 1 = 0.
Solution :
 Question!

Q The eccentricity of the parabola x2 − 4x − 4y + 4 = 0 is .

A e=0

B e=1

C e=4

D e>1
 Question!

Q The eccentricity of the parabola x2 − 4x − 4y + 4 = 0 is .

A e=0

BB e=1

C e=4

D e>1
Solution :

By definition, the eccentricity of a parabola is 1.

Identifying theConic
Given a general second degree equation in x and y, it represents a pair of
lines or different conics depending upon the coefficients.
Consider the equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 … (A)

Let

(1) Δ = 0 ⇒ equation (A) represents a pair of lines.

(2) Δ ≠ 0
Given a general second degree equation in x and y, it represents a pair of
lines or different conics depending upon the coefficients.
Consider the equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 … (A)

Let

(1) Δ = 0 ⇒ equation (A) represents a pair of lines.

(2) Δ ≠ 0
(i) and h2 − ab < 0 ⇒ equation (A) represents an ellipse.
(ii) and h2 − ab = 0 ⇒ equation (A) represents a parabola.
(iii)and h2 − ab > 0 ⇒ equation (A) represents a hyperbola.
Note

The equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 represents a point if

(i) either its an imaginary pair of lines
(ii) or it is a point circle
 Question!

Q What do the following equations represent?

(a) x2 − 4y2 − 2x + 16y − 40 = 0 (b) 2x2 + 3y2 − 6 = 0
 Question!

Q What do the following equations represent?

(a) x2 − 4y2 − 2x + 16y − 40 = 0
Solution :
 Question!

Q What do the following equations represent?

(b) 2x2 + 3y2 − 6 =0
Solution :
 Question!

Q What conic does represent?

Solution :
Parabola
Now, we will pick the conic named parabola and study in complete detail
as of

(a) its standard equations

(b) its parametricform
(c) position of point with respect to parabola
(d) position of line with respect to parabola
(e) focal chord and focal distance
(f) normals
(g) chords
(h) some important properties of parabola
Standard Parabolas
and theirEquations
Here we will be studying parabolas having horizontal or vertical
axis.
Standard parabolas having vertex at origin
Consider the following equations for a > 0 and remember their graphs.

(1) y2 = 4ax

(2) y2 = −4ax

(3) x2 = 4ay

(4) x2 = −4ay
Standard parabolas having vertex at origin
Consider the following equations for a > 0 and remember their graphs.

(1) y2 = 4ax (2) y2 =−4ax

Standard parabolas having vertex at origin
Consider the following equations for a > 0 and remember their graphs.

(1) y2 = 4ax (2) y2 =−4ax

Y Y

LR = 4a LR = 4a
Z (−a, 0) O S (a, 0) X S (−a, 0) O X
Z (a,0)
x = −a x=a
(3) x2 = 4ay (4) x2 = −4ay
(3) x2 = 4ay (4) x2 = −4ay
Y
Y
y= a Z (0, a)
S (0, a)
LR =4a O
X
X LR =4a
O
y = −a S (0, −a)
Z (0,−a)
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix and
length of LR.
(a) y2 = 8x (b) y2 = −4x (c) x2 = 16y (d)x2 = −8y
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix

and length of LR. (a) y2 = 8x
Solution :
Here, a = 2 and it is a parabola facing towards right side.
Y

LR = 8
X
Z (−2, 0) O S (2, 0)

x = −2
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix

and length of LR. (b) y2 = −4x
Solution :
Here, a = 1 and it is a parabola facing towards left side.

LR = 4
O X
S (−1, 0)
Z (1, 0)

x=1
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix

and length of LR. (c) x2 = 16y
Solution :
Here, a = 4 and it is a parabola facing upwards.

S (0, 4)
LR = 16

X
O
y = −4
Z (0, −4)
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix

and length of LR. (d)x2 = −8y
Solution :
Here, a = 2 and it is a parabola facing downwards.

y=2
Z (0, 2)
X
O
LR = 8
S (0, −2)
 Question!

Q Find equations of parabolas with

(a) focus at (3, 0) and directrix as x + 3 = 0, and find length of its LR.
Solution :
 Question!

Q The equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin

passing through (2, 3) and the axis along x-axis is

A 2y2 = 9x

B y2 = 9x

C y2 = -9x

D 2y2 = -9x
 Question!

Q The equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin

passing through (2, 3) and the axis along x-axis is

A 2y2 = 9x

B y2 = 9x

C y2 = -9x

D 2y2 = -9x
Solution :
Standard parabolas having vertex at any point
 Standard parabolas having vertex at any point
Consider the following equations for a > 0 and remember their graphs.

(1) (y − k)2 = 4a(x − h) (2) (y − k)2 = −4a(x − h)

A (h,k) LR = 4a LR = 4a
A (h,k)
Z (h − a, k) S (h + a, k) S (h − a, k) Z (h + a, k)

x= h− a x= h+ a
 Standard parabolas having vertex at any point
Consider the following equations for a > 0 and remember their graphs.

(3) (x − h)2 = 4a(y − k) (4) (x − h)2 = −4a(y − k)

y= k+ a Z (h, k + a)
LR = 4a S (h, k + a)
A (h,k)
LR = 4a
A (h,k)
y= k− a

Z (h, k − a) S (h, k − a)
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix

and length of LR. (a) (y − 2)2 = 4(x − 3)
Solution :
Here, a = 1 and it is a parabola facing towards right side with vertex (3, 2).

(3, 2)
LR = 4
S (4, 2)

O X

x=2
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix

and length of LR. (b) (x − 3)2 = −8(y − 1)
Solution :

Here, a = 2 and it is a parabola facing downwards with vertex (3, 1).

y=3
(3, 1)

X
O LR = 8
S (3, -1)
 Question!

Q Draw the following parabolas and mark their focus, directrix

and length of LR. (c) y2 − 2y − 4x + 9 = 0
Solution :

The equation y2 − 2y − 4x + 9 = 0 can be written as (y − 1)2 = 4(x − 2)

Here, a = 1 and it is a parabola facing towards right side with vertex (2, 1).

(2, 1)
LR = 4
S (3, 1)

O X

x=1
 Question!

Q Equation of directrix of the parabola y2 + 4y + 4x + 2 = 0 is _.

A IIT2001
x = -1

D x=1
 Question!

Q Equation of directrix of the parabola y2 + 4y + 4x + 2 = 0 is _.

A IIT2001
x = -1

D x=1
Solution :