The

Conic
Section
of a
Parabola
A parabola is the set of all points equidistant from a line and a fixed point not on the line. The line is
called the DIRECTRIX, and the point is called the FOCUS. The point on the parabola halfway between
the focus and the directrix is the VERTEX. The line containing the focus and the vertex is the AXIS. A
parabola is symmetric with respect to its axis. 

Note that the

distance d from
the focus to a
point on the
parabola is the
same as the
distance d from
that point to the
directrix.
Standard and General Forms of the Equation of a Parabola with
VERTICAL AXIS of SYMMETRY
 *** The standard form of the equation of a parabola with a vertical axis of symmetry is

 ***
The vertex form of the equation of a parabola with vertex ( h , k ) and vertical axis of
symmetry is

 *** The axis of symmetry is determined by

 Transformation of Equations from Standard form to Vertex form
and Vice versa
 Transform the given equation to standard form.

  𝑦 =2 ( 𝑥 2 + 4 𝑥 + 4 ) − 3
  𝑦 =2 𝑥 2 + 8 𝑥 + 8 ¿ − 3
  𝑦 =2 𝑥 2 +2
8 𝑥 +8 − 3
  𝑦 =2 𝑥 +8 𝑥 +5

 
Transform the given equation
  𝑦 =( 𝑥 ¿ ¿ 2 + 8   8
𝑥 )+ 17 ¿ 2=16
=4
 
-16 2
  𝑦 = ( 𝑥 +4 ) 2+1
Standard and General Forms of the Equation of a Parabola with
HORIZONTAL AXIS of SYMMETRY
 *** The standard form of the equation of a parabola with a horizontal axis of symmetry is
x

 ***
The vertex form of the equation of a parabola with vertex ( h , k ) and vertical axis of
symmetry is

 *** The axis of symmetry is determined by

 
***