Graphing Conics

for Algebra students

Conic Sections and their equations

The general form of all conic equations is: 𝐴𝐴𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝐶𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 + 𝐹𝐹 = 0
Conic Section Characteristic Example
Circle A=C≠0 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 − 16 = 0
Parabola Either A=0 or C=0, but 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑦 − 4 = 0
not both
𝑦𝑦 2 − 𝑥𝑥 − 4𝑦𝑦 = 0
Ellipse A ≠ C, 25𝑥𝑥 2 + 16𝑦𝑦 2 − 400 = 0
AC > 0
Hyperbola A ≠ C, 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑦 2 − 1 = 0
AC < 0

These are the different types of conic sections in more detail:

1. Circle
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 𝑟𝑟 2 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2 = 𝑟𝑟 2 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2
+ =1
𝑟𝑟 2 𝑟𝑟 2
• Center is (0,0) • Center is (h,k) • Center is (h,k)
• Radius is √𝑟𝑟 2 = 𝑟𝑟 • Radius is √𝑟𝑟 2 = 𝑟𝑟 • Radius is √𝑟𝑟 2 = 𝑟𝑟

(h,k) r

Crafton Hills College Tutoring Center Graphing Conics

Created 3/2016
2. Parabola
a. Vertical axis of symmetry
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘 = 𝑎𝑎(𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 𝑥𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑝𝑝(𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)
• Vertex is (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘) • Vertex is (0,0) • Vertex is (h,k)
• Axis of symmetry is x = h • Focus is (0,p) • Focus is (h,k+p)
• Parabola opens up if 𝑎𝑎 > 0 • Directrix is y = -p • Directrix is y = k-p
• Parabola opens down if • Vertical axis of symmetry
𝑎𝑎 < 0 x =0
• Parabola opens up if p>0
• Parabola opens down if p<0

p>0 p<0 y = k-p

F (h,k+p) (h,k)

F (h,k+p)
(h,k)

y = k-p

b. Horizontal axis of symmetry

𝑥𝑥 − ℎ = 𝑎𝑎(𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2 𝑦𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2 = 4𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)

• Vertex is (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘) • Vertex is (0,0) • Vertex is (h,k)
• Axis of symmetry is y = k • Focus is (p,0) • Focus is (h+p,k)
• Parabola opens right if • Directrix is x = -p • Directrix is x = h-p
𝑎𝑎 > 0 • Horizontal axis of symmetry
• Parabola opens left if y =0
𝑎𝑎 < 0 • Parabola opens right if p>0
• Parabola opens left if p<0

p<0
p>0
x = h-p

x = h-p F (h+p,k) F (h+p,0)

(h,k)
(h,k)

Crafton Hills College Tutoring Center Graphing Conics

Created 4/2016
3. Ellipse, a > b > 0
a. Major axis is x-axis (horizontal)
𝑥𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 2 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2
+ =1 + =1
𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2
• Center is (0,0) • Center is (h,k)
• Vertices are (±𝑎𝑎, 0) • Vertices are (ℎ ± 𝑎𝑎, 𝑘𝑘)
• Endpoints of minor axis are • Endpoints of minor axis are
(0, ±𝑏𝑏) (0, 𝑘𝑘 ± 𝑏𝑏)
• Foci are (±𝑐𝑐, 0) • Foci are (ℎ ± 𝑐𝑐, 𝑘𝑘)
• 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 − 𝑏𝑏 2 • 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 − 𝑏𝑏 2

Horizontal
Vertical F

a a
b
F (h,k)
F (h,k)
c b
c

b. Major axis is y-axis (vertical)

𝑥𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 2 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2
+ =1 + =1
𝑏𝑏 2 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2 𝑎𝑎2
• Center is (0,0) • Center is (h,k)
• Vertices are (0, ±𝑎𝑎) • Vertices are (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘 ± 𝑎𝑎)
• Endpoints of minor axis are • Endpoints of minor axis are
(±𝑏𝑏, 0) (ℎ ± 𝑏𝑏, 0)
• Foci are (0, ±𝑐𝑐) • Foci are (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘 ± 𝑐𝑐)
• 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 − 𝑏𝑏 2 • 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 − 𝑏𝑏 2

Note: The location of 𝑎𝑎2 , the greater value, determines whether the ellipse has a horizontal or vertical
major axis.

Crafton Hills College Tutoring Center Graphing Conics

Created 4/2016
4. Hyperbola
a. Transverse axis on x-axis (horizontal)
𝑥𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 2 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2
− =1 − =1
𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2
• Center is (0,0) • Center is (h,k)
• Vertices are (±𝑎𝑎, 0) • Vertices are (ℎ ± 𝑎𝑎, 𝑘𝑘)
𝑏𝑏 𝑏𝑏
• Asymptotes 𝑦𝑦 = ± 𝑎𝑎 𝑥𝑥 • Asymptotes at 𝑦𝑦 = ± 𝑎𝑎 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘𝑘
• Foci are (±𝑐𝑐, 0) • Foci are (ℎ ± 𝑐𝑐, 𝑘𝑘)
• 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 • 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2

Horizontal 𝑏𝑏 Vertical 𝑎𝑎
𝑦𝑦 = (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘𝑘 𝑦𝑦 = (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘𝑘
𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏

F
V
b V a
F V F
(h,k)
a (h,k) c b
c
V
F
𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎
𝑦𝑦 = − (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘𝑘 𝑦𝑦 = − (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘𝑘
𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏

b. Transverse axis on y-axis (vertical)

𝑦𝑦 2 𝑥𝑥 2 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑘)2 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ)2
− =1 − =1
𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2 𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2
• Center is (0,0) • Center is (h,k)
• Vertices are (0, ±𝑎𝑎) • Vertices are (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘 ± 𝑎𝑎)
𝑎𝑎 𝑎𝑎
• Asymptotes at 𝑦𝑦 = ± 𝑏𝑏 𝑥𝑥 • Asymptotes at 𝑦𝑦 = ± 𝑏𝑏 (𝑥𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘𝑘
• Foci are (0, ±𝑐𝑐) • Foci are (ℎ, 𝑘𝑘 ± 𝑐𝑐)
• 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 • 𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2

Note: Asymptotes for a hyperbola always pass through the center (h,k).

Crafton Hills College Tutoring Center Graphing Conics

Created 4/2016