PARABOLA SCHOOL LEVEL

I. To find equation of parabola when focus and directrix is given

1. Find equation of parabola if focus is (-3, 2) and directrix is x + y = 4.
2. Find equation of parabola if focus is (-3, 0) and directrix is x + 5 = 0.
3. Find equation of parabola if focus is (0, -2) and directrix is y – 5 = 0.
4. Find equation of parabola whose focus is (2, 3) and directrix is
x – 4y + 3 = 0. Also find length of latus rectum.
II. To find equation of parabola whose focus and vertex is given
5. Find equation of parabola whose focus is (0, 0) and vertex is (0, -3).
6. Find equation of parabola whose focus is (1, 2) and vertex is
(-1 , 2).
7. Find equation of parabola whose focus is (3, -1) and vertex is
(3, 4) .
8. Find equation of parabola whose focus is (-6 , -6) and vertex is
(-2 , 2).
9. Find the equation of parabola whose focus is (1 , -1) and vertex is
(2 , 1) .
NB: Also find its axis and latus rectum. Equation of directrices,
equation of tangent at vertex, equation of Latus Rectum in all
Questions from 5 to 9.
III. To find equation of parabola whose vertex and directrix is given
10. Find equation of parabola whose vertex is (2, 1) and directrix is
x=y–1.
11. Find the equation of parabola where vertex is (0, 0) and directrix
y = 2.
IV. To find equation of parabola whose focus and tangent at vertex
is given
12. Find equation of parabola whose focus is (1, 1) and tangent at
vertex is x + y = 1.
V. To find equation of parabola when equation of axis, tangent at
vertex and latus rectum is given
13. Find equation of parabola whose latus rectum is 4 units, axis is
the line 3x + 4y – 4 = 0 and tangent at vertex is 4x – 3y + 7 = 0.
VI. To find Vertex, Focus, Directrix, Axis, Latus Rectum etc. from
equation of parabola
Find vertex, axis, focus, directrix, tangent at vertex, latus rectum
of parabola
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
VII. To find equation of parabola when three points are given
23. Find equation of parabola where axis is parallel to x-axis and
passing through 3 points (1, 2), (3, 5), (7, -1).
24. Find equation of parabola whose axis is parallel to y-axis and
passing through (0, 1) , (2, 4) and (-1, 2).
VIII. To find point on the parabola if focal distance is given
25. Find co-ordinate of points on the parabola whose focal
distance is 4.
26. Find co-ordinates of points on parabola whose
focal distance is 8.
IX. Miscellaneous problem on parabola
27. A double ordinate of parabola is of length . Prove
that lines joining vertex to the ends of double ordinate are at right
angle.
28. Find locus of middle points of all chords of parabola
which are drawn through the vertex.
29. PQ is a double ordinate of parabola , find locus of its
points of trisection.
30. At what point on the parabola is abscissa 3 times that of
ordinate.
31. If be ordinates of vertices of triangle inscribed in a
parabola , then show that area of triangle is
.

32. An equilateral triangle is inscribed in a parabola whose

vertex is the vertex of parabola. Find the length of its side.
X. Problems on geometrical applications
33. A beam is supported at its ends by supports which are 12m apart.
Since the load is connected at its centre, there is a deflection of
3cm at the centre and the deflected beam is in the shape of a
parabola. How far from the centre is deflection 1cm?
34. The loweis of a bridge, hung in the form of a parabola, have their
tops 30m above the roadway and are 200 inches apart. If the
cable is 5m above the roadway at the centre of the bridge , find
the length of the vertical supporting cable 30m from the centre.
35. The cable of a uniformly loaded suspension bridge hangs in the
form of a parabola. The roadway which is horizontal and 100m
long is supported by vertical wires attached to the cables, the
longest wire being 30m and the shortest-wires bring 6m. Find the
length of a supporting wire attached to roadway 18m from
middle.
ANSWERS:
1.
2.
3.

4.

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Vertex Focus Directrix Axis LR
14. (0, 0) (2, 0) x+2=0 y=0 8

15. (0, 0) x=0

16. (0 , 0) (-1 , 0) y=0 4

17. (-1 , 2) y=2 3

18. (-2 , 4) (0 , 4) y=4 8

19. 3
25.
26.
28.
29.
30. (3, 1)

32.

33.

34. mts

35. 9.11 m