Conic Sections

MAT 182
Chapter 11

Four conic sections

Cone intersecting
a plane

Hyperbolas
Ellipses
Parabolas
Circles (studied in
previous chapter)

What you will learn

How to sketch the graph of each conic
section.
How to recognize the equation as a
parabola, ellipse, hyperbola, or circle.
How to write the equation for each conic
section given the appropriate data.

Definiton of a parabola
A parabola is the set of all points in the
plane that are equidistant from a fixed line
(directrix) and a fixed point (focus) not on
the line.
Graph a parabola using this interactive web
site.
See notes on parabolas.

Vertical axis of symmetry

If x2 = 4 p y the parabola opens
UP if p > 0
DOWN if p < 0
Vertex is at (0, 0)
Focus is at (0, p)
Directrix is y = - p
axis of symmetry is x = 0

Translated (vertical axis)

(x h )2 = 4p (y - k)

Vertex (h, k)
Focus (h, k+p)
Directrix y = k - p
axis of symmetry x = h

Horizontal Axis of Symmetry

If y2 = 4 p x the parabola opens
RIGHT if p > 0
LEFT if p < 0
Vertex is at (0, 0)
Focus is at
(p, 0)
Directrix is x = - p
axis of symmetry is y = 0

Translated (horizontal axis)

(y k) 2 = 4 p (x h)
Vertex
(h, k)
Focus
(h + p, k)
Directrix x = h p
axis of symmetry y = k

Problems - Parabolas
Find the focus, vertex and directrix:
3x + 2y2 + 8y 4 = 0
Find the equation in standard form of a parabola
with directrix x = -1 and focus (3, 2).
Find the equation in standard form of a parabola
with vertex at the origin and focus (5, 0).

Ellipses
Conic section formed when the plane
intersects the axis of the cone at angle not
90 degrees.
Definition set of all points in the plane, the
sum of whose distances from two fixed
points (foci) is a positive constant.
Graph an ellipse using this interactive web
site.

Ellipse center (0, 0)

Major axis - longer axis contains foci
Minor axis - shorter axis
Semi-axis - the length of axis
Center - midpoint of major axis
Vertices - endpoints of the major axis
Foci - two given points on the major axis
Focus

Center

Focus

Equation of Ellipse
2

x
y

1
2
2
a
b
see notes on ellipses

a>b

Problems
Graph

4x 2 + 9y2 = 4

Find the vertices and foci of an ellipse:

sketch the graph
4x2 + 9y2 8x + 36y + 4 = 0
put in standard form
find center, vertices, and foci

Write the equation of the ellipse

Given the center is at (4, -2) the foci are
(4, 1) and (4, -5) and the length of the
minor axis is 10.

Notes on ellipses
Whispering gallery
Surgery ultrasound - elliptical reflector
Eccentricity of an ellipse
e = c/a
when e 0 ellipse is more circular
when e 1 ellipse is long and thin

Hyperbolas
Definition: set of all points in a plane, the
difference between whose distances from
two fixed points (foci) is a positive
constant.
Differs from an Ellipse whose sum of the
distances was a constant.

Parts of hyperbola
Transverse axis (look for the positive sign)
Conjugate axis
Vertices
Foci (will be on the transverse axis)
Center
Asymptotes

Graph a hyperbola
see notes on hyperbolas

Graph

y
x

1
25 36

Graph

x 6 2 y 3 2
25

144

Put into standard form

9y2 25x2 = 225
4x2 25y2 +16x +50y 109 = 0

Write the equation of hyperbola

Vertices (0, 2) and (0, -2)
Foci (0, 3) and (0, -3)
Vertices (-1, 5) and (-1, -1)
Foci (-1, 7) and (-1, 3)
More Problems

Notes for hyperbola

Eccentricity e = c/a since c > a , e >1
As the eccentricity gets larger the graph
becomes wider and wider
Hyperbolic curves used in navigation to
locate ships etc. Use LORAN (Long Range
Navigation (using system of transmitters)

Identify the graphs

4x2 + 9y2-16x - 36y -16 = 0
2x2 +3y - 8x + 2 =0
5x - 4y2 - 24 -11=0
9x2 - 25y2 - 18x +50y = 0
2x2 + 2y2 = 10
(x+1)2 + (y- 4) 2 = (x + 3)2

Match Conics
Click here for a matching conic section
worksheet.