Conic

Sections
I. Parabola
II. Ellipse
III. Hyperbola
I. A. Parabola with Vertex at the
Origin
1. Opening to the Right
𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥
Length of the Latus Rectum: 4𝑎
Endpoints of the LR: 𝑎, −2𝑎 , 𝑎, 2𝑎
Focus: 𝑎, 0
Directrix: 𝑥 = −𝑎

E.g. 1 Sketch and discuss 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥

Focus: 4𝑎 = 4
𝑎 = 1; 1, 0
Directrix: 𝑥 = −1
LR: 4𝑎 = 4 1
=4
2 Find the equation of the parabola having its
focus at 2, 0 , and directrix 𝑥 =-2. Then find
the length of the LR.

Since the directrix is 𝑥 =-2, and focus is at (2,

0), we conclude that the vertex of the parabola
is at the origin. The parabola is in standard
position so its equation has the form 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥.

Hence,
𝑦2 = 4 2 𝑥
𝒚𝟐 = 𝟖𝒙
LR: 4𝑎 = 4 2 = 8
3 Find the length of the LR and the equation of
the parabola having its vertex at the origin, axis
along x-axis, and passing through the point (3, 6).

𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥
(6)2 = 4𝑎 3
36 = 12𝑎
𝑎=3
Focus: (3, 0)
𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥: 𝑥 = −3

𝐿𝑅: 4 3 =12
 2. Opening to the LEFT
𝑦 2 = −4𝑎𝑥
Length of the Latus Rectum: 4𝑎
Endpoints of the LR: −𝑎, −2𝑎 , −𝑎, 2𝑎
Focus: −𝑎, 0
Directrix: 𝑥 = 𝑎

E.g. 4 Sketch and discuss the parabola 𝑦 2 = −8𝑥

Focus: 4𝑎 = −8
𝑎 = −2; −2, 0
Directrix: 𝑥 =2
LR: 4𝑎 = 4 2
=8
5 Find the equation and the length of the LR of
the parabola having its vertex at the origin and
1
focus at (− , 0).
2

1
𝑎 =−
2
1
𝐿𝑅: 4 =2
2

2
1
𝑦 = 4(− )𝑥
2
𝒚𝟐 = −𝟐𝒙
 3. Opening UPWARD
𝑥 2 = 4𝑎𝑦
Length of the Latus Rectum: 4𝑎
Focus: 0, 𝑎
Directrix: y = −𝑎

E. g. 6 Find the equation and the length of the LR of the

parabola with directrix 𝑦 = −4 and focus at (0, 4).

𝑎 =4
𝐿𝑅: 4 4 =16

𝑥 2 = 4(4)𝑦
𝒙𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔𝒚
 4. Opening DOWNWARD
𝑥 2 = −4𝑎𝑦
Length of the Latus Rectum: 4𝑎
Focus: 0, −𝑎
Directrix: y = 𝑎

E. g. 7 Find the length of the LR and the equation of the

parabola whose axis is vertical, vertex at the origin, and
passing through (4, −2).
42 = −4𝑎 −2
16 = 8𝑎 𝑥 2 = −4 2 𝑦
𝑎=2 𝒙𝟐 = −𝟖𝒚
Focus: (0, −2)
Directrix: 𝑦 = 2
 I. B. Parabola with Vertex at (h, k)
The standard forms of the equations of a parabola with vertex at
(h, k) can be written in any of the following four cases:
Case I If the axis is parallel to the x-axis and the parabola opens to the right,
then the equation is
(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
where the focus is on the line 𝑦 = 𝑘 and is 𝑎 units to the right of the vertex.
Case II If the axis is parallel to the x-axis and the parabola opens to the
left, then the equation is
(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = −4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
where the focus is on the line 𝑦 = 𝑘 and is 𝑎 units to the left of the vertex.
Case III If the axis is parallel to the y-axis and the parabola opens upward,
then the equation is
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
where the focus is on the line 𝑥 = ℎ and is 𝑎 units above the vertex.
Case IV If the axis is parallel to the y-axis and the parabola opens
downward, then the equation is
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = −4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
where the focus is on the line 𝑥 = ℎ and is 𝑎 units below the vertex.
E. g. 1 Find the equation of the parabola with vertex at
(−2, 0) and focus at (−1, 0)
The focus is to the right of the vertex, so the parabola opens to the
right.

ℎ = −2, 𝑘 = 0
𝑎=1
LR: 4𝑎 = 4 1 = 4

(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
(𝑦 − 0)2 = 4(1)(𝑥 + 2)
𝑦 2 = 4(𝑥 + 2)
𝒚𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟖 = 𝟎
E. g. 2 Given the parabola having the equation 𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 +
8𝑥 = −4, find the vertex, focus, and the length of the LR.
Reduce first the equation to standard form. Thus, Completing the
square,

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 = −4𝑦 − 4
𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 42 = −4𝑦 − 4 + 42
(𝒙 + 𝟒)𝟐 = −𝟒(𝒚 − 𝟑)

Vertex: −4, 3
Focus: 4𝑎 = −4; 𝑎 = −1
−4, 2
LR: 4𝑎 = 4 1 = 4
E. g. 3 Find the equation of the parabola with vertex at (1, −2),
axis parallel to the y-axis, and passing through −1, 2 .

ℎ = 1, 𝑘 = −2
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 = 𝟒𝒂 𝒚 + 𝟐
Since the parabola passes through the point −1, 2 ,
(−1 − 1)2 = 4𝑎(2 + 2)
(−2)2 = 4𝑎 4
4 = 16𝑎
𝟏
𝒂=𝟒
1
(𝑥 − 1)2 = 4 𝑦+2
4
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 = 𝑦 + 2
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 − 𝒚 − 𝟏 = 𝟎
 II. A. Ellipse with Center at the Origin

Major axis VV’=2a is the longer of the two axes of the ellipse
Minor axis BB’=2b is the shorter of the axes
Vertices are the ends of the major axis
Center is the intersection of the axes of the ellipse
Latus Rectum is the chord through a focus and perpendicular to the major axis

𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑏2
Ends of the LR: (𝑐, − 𝑎 ), 𝑐, 𝑎 while the other LR are (−𝑐, − 𝑎 ), −𝑐, 𝑎

2𝑏2
Length of the LR: 𝑎

𝑐 𝑎2 −𝑏2
Eccentricity of the ellipse: =
𝑎 𝑎
Case I Ellipse with Center at the Origin and Vertex on the x-axis
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
The ellipse intersects the x-axis at (±𝑎, 0), and the y-axis at (0, ±𝑏). In
this case 𝑎 > 𝑏.

Case II Ellipse with Center at the Origin and Vertex on the y-axis
If an ellipse has center at (0, 0), ends of major axis at (0, ±𝑎), ends of
minor axis at (±𝑏, 0) and foci 0, ±𝑐 , its equation
𝑦2 𝑥2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
The y-intercept is greater than the x-intercept.
E. g. 1 Find the equation of an ellipse with center at the origin,
foci at (±2, 0), and vertices at ±3, 0 . Then find the length of
the LR and eccentricity.
One of the foci is at c = 2, vertex is 3 units from the origin so that a = 3.
Using the relation 𝑏2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑐 2,
𝑏2 = 32 − 22
𝑏2 = 5

𝑥2 𝑦2 2𝑏 2 𝑐
+ =1 𝐿𝑅 = 𝑒=
𝑎2 𝑏 2 𝑎 𝑎
2(5) 2
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝐿𝑅 = 𝑒=
+ =1 3 3
32 5 𝟏𝟎
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝑳𝑹 = 𝒆 ≈ 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟕 …
+ =𝟏 𝟑
𝟗 𝟓
E. g. 2 Find the foci, eccentricity, length of the LR and the x-and
y- intercepts of the ellipse
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
4 16

The major axis is on the y-axis since the denominator of the 𝑦 2 term is
greater than the denominator of the 𝑥 2 term.

The 𝑥 − intercepts are The 𝑦 − intercepts are

𝑏2 = 4 𝑎2 = 16
𝑏 = ±2 𝑎 = ±4
(±𝟐, 0) (𝟎, ±𝟒)

𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏2 2𝑏2 𝑐
LR = e=𝑎
𝑐 2 = 42 − 22 𝑎
12
𝑐 2 = 12 2(2)2
LR = 4 e= 4
(𝟎, − 𝟏𝟐), (𝟎, 𝟏𝟐) 𝐞 ≈ 𝟎. 𝟖𝟔𝟔𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟒𝟎𝟑
𝐋𝐑 = 𝟐
 II. B. Ellipse with Center at (h, k)

The equation of the ellipse whose center is at (h, k) and the major axis is
parallel to the x-axis is
(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
+ 2 =1
𝑎2 𝑏
The equation of the ellipse whose center is at (h, k) and the major axis is
parallel to the y-axis is
(𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2
+ 2 =1
𝑎2 𝑏
The eccentricity is
𝑐
𝑒=
𝑎

The length of the latus rectum is

2𝑏 2
𝐿𝑅 =
𝑎
E. g. 1 Find the equation of the ellipse with vertices at (−2, 1)
2
and 4, 1 with eccentricity .
3
The center of the ellipse is at the midpoint of the major axis between (−2, 1)
and 4, 1 .

1 1
𝑥ҧ = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑦ത = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
2 2
1 1
𝑥ҧ = −2 + 4 𝑦ത = 2 1 + 1
2
ഥ=𝟏
𝒙 ഥ=𝟏
𝒚

Therefore the center of the ellipse is at the point (h, k) = 1, 1 .

2
From the eccentricity, 𝑒 = 3, thus 𝑐 = 2 and 𝑎 = 3. We get,
𝑏2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑐 2
𝒃𝟐 = 𝟓
Since the ellipse has a horizontal major axis, its equation is

(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
+ 2 =1
𝑎2 𝑏
(𝑥−1) 2 (𝑦−1)2
+ =1
9 5
5(𝑥 − 1)2 +9(𝑦 − 1)2 = 45
5(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1) + 9(𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1) = 45
𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗𝒚𝟐 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙 − 𝟏𝟖𝒚 − 𝟑𝟏 = 𝟎
E. g. 2 Discuss the graph of the equation:
9𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 − 54𝑥 − 16𝑦 + 1 = 0

Complete the squares,

9 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 4 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 = −61
9 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 + 4 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 + 4 = −61 + 81 + 16
9 𝑥 − 3 2 + 4(𝑦 − 2)2 = 36
(𝒙−𝟑)𝟐 (𝒚−𝟑)𝟐
+ =1
𝟒 𝟗

Therefore, the center is at ℎ, 𝑘 = (3, 2)

The major axis is vertical with 𝑎 = 3 and 𝑏 = 2. The endpoints of the

major axis are
ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑎 = (3, 5) and ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑎 = 3, −1
while the endpoints of the minor axis are
ℎ − 𝑏, 𝑘 = (1, 2) and ℎ + 𝑏, 𝑘 = (5, 2)
The foci can be found using the equation 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏2
𝑐 2 = (3)2 −(2)2
𝑐2 = ± 5
(𝟎, ± 𝟓)

The length of the LR is

2𝑏2
𝐿𝑅 = 𝑎
2(2)2
𝐿𝑅 = 3
8
𝐿𝑅 = 3
𝑳𝑹 ≈ 𝟐. 𝟔𝟔𝟕 …

The eccentricity is
𝑐
𝑒=𝑎
5
𝑒=
3
𝒆 ≈ 𝟎. 𝟕𝟒𝟓
 III. A. Hyperbola with Center at the
Origin
If the foci of a hyperbola are on the x-axis with coordinates (𝑐, 0)
and −𝑐, 0 , the equation is
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

If the foci of a hyperbola are on the y-axis with coordinates (0, 𝑐)

and 0, −𝑐 , the equation is
𝑦2 𝑥2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

Properties of the Hyperbola

1. Symmetry The hyperbola is symmetric to the x- and y- axis because
both x and y are of second degree, and is also symmetric to the origin.
2. Intercepts Setting y=0