PARABOLA

GRADE 11 LAVANDER JADE

The following definition of a parabola is a coordinates free definition. It
does not depend on the coordinates of points a fixed point in any
coordinates system
A parabola is the set of all points in a plane equidistant from F and a
fixed line L
The fixed point is called Focus and the fixed line is called the diretrix
. A line through the focus perpendicular to the diretrix is called axis of
symmetry.and the point on the axis of the symmetry halfway between
the diretrix and focus is called the vertex.

y²= 4ax x²= 4ay

Theorem 1 Standad Equation of a parabola with vertex at (0,0)

1.y²= 4ax
Vertex : (0,0)
Focus : (a,0)
Directrix x= -a
Symmetric with respect to
The axis of symmetry x axis
a>0 open right
a<0 open left
Theorem 1 Standad Equation of a parabola with vertex at (0,0)

1.x²= 4ay
Vertex : (0,0)
Focus : (0,a)
Directrix y= -a
Symmetric with respect to
The axis of symmetry y axis
a>0 open up
a<0 open down
Graphing a parabola
Locate focus and directrix and sketch the graph of
y²= 16x y² = 16(4)

Solution : the equation y²= 16x has the form y²=4ax with 4a=16 so a = 4
therefore the focus is (4,0) and the directrix of the line x = -4. To sketch
the graph we choose some values of x that make the right side of the
equation a perfect square and solve for y.

X 0 1 4
Y 0 +-4 +-8
Note x must be greater than or equal to 0 for y to be a real number. Then
we plot the resulting points. Because a>0 the parabola opens to the right
x,y
(0,0)
(1,+4)
(1,-4)
(4,+8)
(4,-8)
Example 2
x²=12(y)
x²= 4ay
4a= 12 so a= 3
Focus (0,3)
Directrix= -3

Y 0 1 3
X 0 +-3.46 +-6
Example 1 Finding the equation of a Parabola
A. Find the equation of a parabola having the origin as its
Vertex, the y axis as its axis of symmetry (-10, -5) on its graph
B. Find the coordinates of its focus and the equation of its directrix.

Solutions ;
A . Because the axis of symmetry of the parabola is the y axis .the
parabola has an equation of the graph we have
x²= 4ay so substitute x=-10 and y= -5
-(10)² = 4a(-5) simplify
100= -20a divide both sideby -20
a= -5
There fore the equation of the parabola is
x²= 4ay
x²= 4(-5)y
x²= -20y

B. Focus F= (0,a) = (0,-5)

Directrix y = -a = -(-5) = 5
Activity

A. Find the equation of the parabola having the originas its vertex, the x
axis as its axis of symmetry and (4,-8) on its graph
B. Find the coordinates of its focus the equation of its directrix.
C. y²= 8x
D. X²=24y
E. x²=-8y