Problem 1: Finding the Equation of an Ellipse
Given:
● Foci: (-2, 3) and (4, 3)
● Length of the major axis: 10 units
Solution:
1. Find the center: The center is the midpoint of the foci.
○ Center: ((-2+4)/2, (3+3)/2) = (1, 3)
2. Find the semi-major axis: The length of the major axis is 10 units, so the semi-major
axis is 10/2 = 5 units.
3. Find the semi-minor axis: The distance between the center and a focus is the distance
between (1, 3) and (-2, 3), which is 3 units. Using the relationship between the
semi-major axis (a), semi-minor axis (b), and the distance between the center and a
focus (c), we have:
○ a² = b² + c²
○ 5² = b² + 3²
○ b² = 16
○ b=4
4. Write the equation: Since the foci are on the horizontal line y=3, the ellipse is
horizontal. Using the standard equation for a horizontal ellipse, we get:
○ (x-1)²/5² + (y-3)²/4² = 1
○ (x-1)²/25 + (y-3)²/16 = 1
Problem 2: Finding the Foci and Vertices of an Ellipse
Given:
● Equation: (x+3)²/36 + (y-2)²/16 = 1
Solution:
1. Identify the center: The center is (-3, 2).
2. Find the semi-major axis: The semi-major axis is √36 = 6 units.
3. Find the semi-minor axis: The semi-minor axis is √16 = 4 units.
4. Find the vertices: Since the semi-major axis is along the x-axis, the vertices are 6 units
to the left and right of the center:
○ Vertices: (-3-6, 2) and (-3+6, 2) = (-9, 2) and (3, 2)
5. Find the foci: Using the relationship between a, b, and c, we have:
○ c² = a² - b²
○ c² = 36 - 16
○ c² = 20
○ c = √20 = 2√5
○ Foci: (-3-2√5, 2) and (-3+2√5, 2)
Hyperbola
Definition: A hyperbola is a set of points in a plane such that the difference of the distances
from two fixed points (called foci) is constant.
Key Properties:
● Center: The midpoint of the line segment connecting the foci.
● Vertices: The points on the hyperbola that are closest to the center.
● Foci: The two fixed points used to define the hyperbola.
● Asymptotes: The lines that the hyperbola approaches but never touches as x or y
approaches infinity.
● Transverse Axis: The line segment connecting the vertices.
● Conjugate Axis: The line segment perpendicular to the transverse axis, passing
through the center.
Standard Equations:
● Horizontal Hyperbola: (x-h)²/a² - (y-k)²/b² = 1
○ (h, k) is the center
○ a is the length of the semi-major axis (half the length of the transverse axis)
○ b is the length of the semi-minor axis
● Vertical Hyperbola: (y-k)²/a² - (x-h)²/b² = 1
○ (h, k) is the center
○ a is the length of the semi-major axis (half the length of the transverse axis)
○ b is the length of the semi-minor axis
Graphing a Hyperbola:
1. Identify the center (h, k).
2. Determine the lengths of the semi-major axis (a) and semi-minor axis (b).
3. Plot the center.
4. From the center, move a units horizontally in both directions to find the vertices.
5. Calculate the distance between the center and a focus using the formula c² = a² + b².
6. Plot the foci, which are c units to the left and right of the center for a horizontal
hyperbola, or c units above and below the center for a vertical hyperbola.
7. Sketch the hyperbola using the vertices and asymptotes as guides.
Problem Solving:
Problem 1: Finding the Equation of a Hyperbola
Given:
● Vertices: (-2, 1) and (4, 1)
● Asymptotes: y = ±2/3(x-1)
Solution:
1. Find the center: The center is the midpoint of the vertices.
○ Center: ((-2+4)/2, (1+1)/2) = (1, 1)
2. Find the semi-major axis: The distance between the center and a vertex is 3 units.
○ a=3
3. Find the semi-minor axis: From the asymptotes, we can see that the slope is ±2/3.
Using the relationship between a, b, and the slope of the asymptotes, we have:
○ b/a = 2/3
○ b = 2/3 * 3 = 2
4. Write the equation: Since the vertices are on the horizontal line y=1, the hyperbola is
horizontal. Using the standard equation for a horizontal hyperbola, we get:
○ (x-1)²/3² - (y-1)²/2² = 1
○ (x-1)²/9 - (y-1)²/4 = 1
Parabola
Definition: A parabola is a set of points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point (called
the focus) and a fixed line (called the directrix).
Key Properties:
● Vertex: The point on the parabola that is closest to the focus and the directrix.
● Focus: The fixed point used to define the parabola.
● Directrix: The fixed line used to define the parabola.
● Axis of Symmetry: The line that divides the parabola into two symmetrical halves.
Standard Equations:
● Vertical Parabola: y = a(x-h)² + k
○ (h, k) is the vertex
○ a determines the shape and direction of the parabola
● Horizontal Parabola: x = a(y-k)² + h
○ (h, k) is the vertex
○ a determines the shape and direction of the parabola
Graphing a Parabola:
1. Identify the vertex (h, k).
2. Determine the value of a, which affects the shape and direction of the parabola.
3. Plot the vertex.
4. Use the value of a to find a point on the parabola. For example, if a is positive, you can
find a point by moving one unit to the right of the vertex and then a units upward.
5. Sketch the parabola using the vertex and the additional point as a guide.
Problem Solving:
Problem 1: Finding the Equation of a Parabola
Given:
● Vertex: (2, -3)
● Focus: (2, -5)
Solution:
1. Determine the axis of symmetry: Since the focus and vertex have the same
x-coordinate, the axis of symmetry is vertical.
2. Find the distance between the vertex and the focus: The distance is 2 units.
3. Determine the value of a: Since the focus is below the vertex, the parabola opens
downward. The value of a is equal to -1/(4p), where p is the distance between the vertex
and the focus.
○ a = -1/(4*2) = -1/8
4. Write the equation: Using the standard equation for a vertical parabola, we get:
○ y = -1/8(x-2)² - 3
Given:
● Equation: y = 2(x-1)² + 3
Solution:
1. Identify the vertex: The vertex is (1, 3).
2. Determine the value of a: The value of a is 2, which indicates that the parabola opens
upward.
3. Find the distance between the vertex and the focus: The distance between the
vertex and the focus is given by the formula |1/(4a)|.
○ Distance = |1/(4*2)| = 1/8
4.
5.
6. Find the focus: Since the parabola opens upward, the focus is 1/8 units above the
vertex.
○ Focus: (1, 3+1/8) = (1, 25/8)
7. Find the directrix: Since the parabola opens upward, the directrix is 1/8 units below the
vertex.
○ Directrix: y = 3 - 1/8 = 23/8
