PARABOLA

PRE-CALCULUS
PARABOLA
•Is the locus of a point that moves in a
plane so that its distance from a fixed
point is equal to its distance from a
fixed line. Its eccentricity is one.
 Parts of a Parabola
• The fixed-point F is called the focus.
• The fixed line D is called the directrix.
• The point on the parabola which is halfway from the focus to the directrix is the
vertex.
• The axis of symmetry (axis of the parabola) is the line passing through the focus
and perpendicular to the directrix. This axis divides the parabola into two equal
branches.
• A chord connecting any two points of a parabola and passing through the focus is
a focal chord. A focal chord connecting two points of the parabola passing through
the focus and perpendicular to the axis of symmetry is called the latus rectum
(right chord).
Important Lengths and Distances
Involved in a Parabola
• Let a be a positive real number. Then we have the following
lengths and distances associated with the graph of a parabola.

1. a = distance from vertex to focus or from vertex to directrix

2. 2a = distance from focus to an end of latus rectum or a directrix.
3. 4a = length of latus rectum
4. e = 1
 Equations and Graphs of
Parabola

Standard Forms of Parabolas

The standard equation of a parabola with vertex at V(0,0).
I. Axis of symmetry on OX, and
A. right opening is B. left opening is
𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 𝑦 2 = −4𝑎𝑥
 Standard Forms of Parabolas
The standard equation of a parabola with vertex at V(0,0).
II. Axis of symmetry on OY, and
A. upward opening is B. downward opening is
2 2
𝑥 = 4𝑎𝑦 𝑥 = −4𝑎𝑦

The standard equation of a parabola with vertex at V(h,k).

II. Axis of symmetry horizontal
A. right opening is B. left opening is
2 2
(𝑦 − 𝑘) = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) (𝑦 − 𝑘) = −4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
The standard equation of a parabola with vertex at V(h,k).
II. Axis of symmetry vertical
A. upward opening is B. downward opening is
2 2
(𝑥 − ℎ) = 4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘) (𝑥 − ℎ) = −4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
 Equations of Directrices of Parabolas
The equation of the directrix of a parabola that opens

A. to the right is B. to the left is

𝑥=ℎ−𝑎 𝑥=ℎ+𝑎

C. upward is B. downward is
𝑦 =𝑘−𝑎 𝑦 =𝑘+𝑎
 General Equations of Parabolas
The general equation of parabola with
I. vertical axis of symmetry is
𝑥 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0, 𝐸≠0
2
𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐷′𝑥 + 𝐸′𝑦 + 𝐹′ = 0 𝐸′ ≠ 0

II. horizontal axis of symmetry is

𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0, 𝐷≠0
𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷′𝑥 + 𝐸′𝑦 + 𝐹′ = 0 𝐶, 𝐷′ ≠ 0
1. 𝑥 2 − 8𝑦 = 0
2. 2𝑦 2 − 7𝑥 − 6 = 0

3. 2𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 15 = 0
4. 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 0 Equations of
Parabola in General
Form
1. 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥
2. 𝑥 2 = −12𝑦

3. (𝑦 − 3) 2 = 48𝑥
4. 𝑥 2 = −36(𝑦 + 1) Equations of
Parabola in Standard
Form
Reduce each of the following
equations of parabolas in standard
form.

1. 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 16𝑦 + 4 = 0
2. 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 12𝑦 − 35 = 0
3. 4𝑦 2 + 96𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 97 = 0
For each equation of the parabola, reduce it to its
standard form, find the direction of its opening,
vertex, focus, and endpoints of the latus rectum.
Determine the equation of the directrix and draw the
parabola.

1. 𝑥 2 − 8𝑦 = 0
2. 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 8𝑦 − 20 = 0
3. 𝑦 2 + 16𝑦 − 32 = 0
4. 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 24𝑦 − 47 = 0
Thank
you!