MATHEMATICS PROJECT

DIVYA
XI A
CONIC SECTIONS
HISTORY
 The names parabola and hyperbola are given by
APOLLONIUS.These curves are in fact, known as
CONIC SECTIONS or more commonly CONICS
because they can be obtained as intersections of a plane
with a double napped right circular cone. These curves
have a very wide range of application in fields such as
planetary motion, design of telescopes and reflectors in
flash lights and automobile headlights, etc.
SECTIONS OF A
CONE
Let l be a fixed vertical line and m be
another line intersecting it at a fixed point V
and inclined to it at an angle α. l m

Suppose we rotate the line m around the
line l in such a way that the angle α remains
constant. V

Then the surface generated is a double-

napped right circular hollow cone herein
after referred as cone and extending
indefinitely far in both directions.
The point V is called the vertex;

The line l is the axis of the cone.

The rotating line m is called a generator of the cone.

The vertex separates the cone into two parts called
nappes.

If we take the intersection of a plane with a cone,

the section so obtained is called a conic section.

Thus, conic sections are the curves obtained by

intersecting a right circular cone by a plane.

Let ß be the angle made by the intersecting plane

with the vertical axis. The intersection of the plane
can take place in any axis.
CONIC SECTION
When a right circular cone is intersected by a plane, the curves obtained are known as conic
sections.

If the plane which cuts the cone is parallel the generator, then the conic section obtained is
called PARABOLA.

When the plane which cuts the cone is not parallel to the generator, then the conic section
obtained is called an ELLIPSE.

When the plane which cuts the cone is parallel to the axis, then the conic section is called
HYPERBOLA .
 Conic Sections
When the plane cuts the nappe (other than the vertex) of the cone, we have the
following situations :

(a) When β = 90º, the section is a circle.

(b) When α < β < 90º, the section is an

ellipse.
(c) When β = α; the section is a parabola

(d) When 0 ≤ β < α; the plane cuts through

both the nappes and the curves of
intersection is a hyperbola
 When the plane cuts at the vertex of the cone, we have the following different
cases:

(a) When α < β ≤ 90o, then the section is a

point

(b) When β = α, the plane contains a

generator of the cone and the section is a
straight line. It is the degenerated case of a
parabola.
CIRCLE
 Circl
e
A Circle is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed
point in the plane.

The fixed point is called the centre of the circle and the distance from the
centre to a point on the circle is called the radius of the circle
EQUATION OF A CIRCLE

Given C (h, k) be the centre and r the radius of circle. Let P(x, y) be any
point on the circle. Then, by the definition, | CP | = r . By the distance
formula,

(x-h)2 + (y-k)2 = r2
PARABOLA
 Parabol
a
A parabola is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed line
and a fixed point (not on the line) in the plane.

A line through the focus and

perpendicular to the directrix is
called the axis of the parabola.
The point of intersection of
parabola with the axis is called
the vertex of the parabola.

The fixed line is called the directrix

of the parabola and the fixed point F
is called the focus .(‘Para’ means
‘for’ and ‘bola’ means ‘throwing’,
i.e., the shape described when you
throw a ball in the air).
 STANDARD EQUATION
OF PARABOLA
Let F be the focus and l the directrix.
l Y

Let FM be perpendicular to the directrix

and bisect FM at the point O.

Produce MO to X. X’ X
M O
F (a,0)
By the definition of parabola, the mid-
point O is on the parabola and is called the
vertex of the parabola.
Y’

Take O as origin, OX as x-axis and OY perpendicular to it as the y-axis.

Let the distance from the directrix to the focus be 2a.

 Then, the coordinates of the focus are (a, 0), and the equation of the directrix is x
+ a = 0.
Let P(x, y) be any point on the parabola
such that PF = PB, ... (1) where PB is
perpendicular to l.
l Y
The coordinates of B are (– a, y).

(-a, y) B P (x,y) By the distance formula, we have PF = (x

– a)2 + y2 and PB = (x + a)2
X’ X
M O Since PF = PB, we have
F (a,0)
x = -a

Þ(x – a)2 + y2 = (x + a)2

Y’ Þx2 – 2ax + a2 + y2 = x2 + 2ax + a2

Þy2 = 4ax ( a > 0). …(2)

And so, P(x, y) lies on the

Or,
parabola.
LATUS RECTUM
Latus rectum of a parabola is a line segment perpendicular to the axis of the
parabola, through the focus and whose end points lie on the parabola.

To find the Length of the latus rectum of

l
the parabola y2 = 4ax. Y A
C
By the definition of the parabola, AF = AC.

But AC = FM = 2a X’ X
Hence AF = 2a. M O F (a, 0)

And since the parabola is symmetric with respect to x-

axis AF = FB and so
Y B
AB = Length of the latus rectum = 4a.
PARABOLA OF THE TYPE, y2=-4ax , a>0
CHARACTRISTICS
Focus (-a,0)

Equation of the axis is y= 0

Equation of the directrix is x-a= 0

Length of the latus rectum = 4a units

PARABOLA OF THE TYPE , x2=4ay , a>0
CHARACTRISTICS
Focus (0,a)

Equation of the axis is x= 0

Equation of the directrix is y+a= 0

Length of the latus rectum = 4a units

PARABOLA OF THE TYPE , x2=-4ay , a>0
CHARACTRISTICS
Focus (0,-a)

Equation of the axis is x= 0

Equation of the directrix is y-a= 0

Length of the latus rectum = 4a units

ELLIPSE
 Ellipse
An ellipse is the set of all points in a plane, the sum of whose distances from
two fixed points in the plane is a constant.

P2 P3
P1

Focus Focus
F1 F2

P1F1 + P1F2 = P2F1 + P2F2 = P3F1 + P3F2

The two fixed points are called the foci (plural of ‘focus’) of the ellipse.
The mid point of the line segment joining the foci is called the centre of the
ellipse.

The line segment through the foci of the ellipse is called the major axis.

The line segment through the centre and perpendicular to the major axis is
called the minor axis.

The end points of the major axis are called the vertices of the ellipse.

We denote the length of the major axis by 2a, the length of the minor axis by 2b
and the distance between the foci by 2ae (2c). Thus the length of the semi major
axis is a and that of the semi minor axis is b.
STANDARD EQUATION OF THE ELLIPSE:-
Let F1 and F2 be the foci and 0 be the mid-point of the line segment
F1 , F2. let 0 be the origin and the line from 0 through F1 be the
positive s-axis and through F2 as the negative axis. Let the line
through 0 perpendicular to the x-axis be the y-axis. Let the
coordinates of F1 and F2 be F1(ae,0) and F2(-ae,0). Let P(x,y) be any
point on the ellipse. Such that sum of the distance from P to the two
foci be 2a.
By definition of the ellipse,
PF1+PF2= constant
PF1+PF2=2a
 = 2a

Squaring both the sides,

x2+2xae+a2e2+y2=4a2-4a +y2 +(x-ae)2+y2
x2+2xae+a2e2=4a2-4a +x2-2xae+a2e2

4xae=4a2-4a
4a(xe)= 4a [a- ]
=a-xe
Squaring again,
x2-2xae+a2e2+y2= a2-2xae+x2e2
(x2-x2e2)+y2= a2-a2e2
x2(1-e2)+y2= a2(1-e)2

, where b2= a2(1- e2)

Here AB and CD are the latus rectum
Let AF1= k(say)
Therefore, (ae,k)
Since A(ae,k) lies on ,

b2=a2(1-e2)
Therefore, length of the latus rectum = units

ECCENTRICITY:-

The eccentricity of an ellipse is the ratio of the distance from the

center of the ellipse to one of the foci and to one of the vertices of the
ellipse and is denoted by ‘e’.
Ellipse of the type, (Major
axis along y-axis )

Vertex (0,±a)

Foci (0, ± ae)

Length of the minor

axis =2a

Length of the latus

rectum = units
HYPERBOLA
THE HYPERBOLA

The plane that intersects the cone is parallel

to the axis of symmetry of the cone.
HYPERBOLA:-
A hyperbola is the set of all the points in a plane the difference
of whose distance from two fixed points in the plane is the
constant.
The two fixed points are called the foci of the hyperbola.
The mid-point of the line segment joining the foci is
called the centre of the hyperbola.
The line through the foci is called the TRANSVERSE
AXIS and the line through the centre and perpendicular to
the transverse axis is called the CONJUGATE AXIS.
 The points at which the hyperbola intersects the
transverse axis are called the VERTEX of the hyperbola.
Distance between two foci =2ae. Length of the transverse
axis =2a and the length of the conjugate axis =2b.
STANDARD EQUATION OF HYPERBOLA:-
Let F1 and F2 be the foci 0 be the mid-point of the line
segment F1 ,F2. Let 0 be the origin and the line through 0,
through F1 be the positive x-axis and through F2 be the
negative x-axis. The line through 0 perpendicular to x-axis
be the y-axis. Let the coordinates of F1 and F2 be F1(ae, 0)
and F2(-ae, 0).
Let P(x,y) be any point on the hyperbola, such that
PF2-PF1 =2a
PF2 =2a+PF1

(x+ae)2+y2=4a2+4a + (x-ae)2+y2
x2+2xae+a2e2 =4a2+4a +x2-2xae+a2e2
4xae-4a2 =4a
4a(xe-a) =4a
(xe-a)2 =(x-ae)2+y2
x2e2-2xae+a2=x2-2xae+a2e2+y2
(x2e2-x2)-y2 =a2e2-a2
x2(e2-1)-y2 =a2(e2-1)

, where b2 =a2(e2-1)
HYPERBOLA OF THE TYPE

Vertices (0, ±a)

Foci (0, ±ae)
 THANK YOU
Thank you for your
kind attention. This
power point
presentation was
created by Divya of
class XI A, K.V
A.S.C Centre[S].

39