REFLECTIVE PROPERTY OF PARABOLAS

x2
Consider the parabola with equation y
, where p 0 . We wish to show that it has
4p
the special reflective property that a beam of light originating at the focus will reflect off the
parabola parallel the axis of symmetry. Notice that we can create any parabola in the plane by
starting with one of the above form and performing rigid motions on it (specifically, translations
and rotations), so if this parabola has the desired property, so will every parabola in the plane.
Lets start with some general information about this parabola. With the condition p 0 ,
the parabola opens up with the y-axis as the axis of symmetry. The focus lies on the axis of
symmetry at F (0, p) .
In order to consider the reflective property, we recall a principle from physics: if a beam
of light is aimed at a curved mirror, then the angle of incidence with the tangent line to the mirror
at the point of reflection is equal in measure to the angle of reflection with respect to the same
tangent line (see Figure 1). Thus, we need to know about the tangent lines to the parabola in
dy
question, and so we derive a formula for the slope
of an arbitrary tangent line. Since the
dx
dy 2 x
x
x2

parabola has equation y

, differentiating with respect to x yields
.
dx 4 p 2 p
4p

F
P
B
These two angles should have the
same measure
Figure 1
The first thing we notice is that at the vertex, the reflective property is easy to see. After
all, the tangent line at the vertex is horizontal, and the line through the focus F and the vertex is
the vertical axis, so these lines meet at right angles, and so the reflective property holds at the
vertex. Thus, we can restrict our attention to points on the parabola where the x and y coordinates
are nonzero.
Let P ( x0 , y0 ) be a point on the parabola with x0 0 and y0 0 . Our plan of attack is
to construct four important nonzero vectors: the first from P to the focus, the second from P
parallel to the axis of symmetry, and the other two along the tangent line in opposite directions.
We will then use the dot product to compute the cosines of the angles between appropriate pairs
of these vectors and show that they are equal, so the angles have equal measure. We can then
conclude that if light starts at the focus and travels along the line joining the focus to P, it must
be reflected along the vector from P parallel to the axis of symmetry.

The vectorsuufrom
P to the focus and from P parallel to the axis of symmetry are easy to
ur
identify. Let u1 PF . Since we know the coordinates of the endpoints of this directed line
x0
0 x0

. Since the axis of

p y0
y0 p

segment, we can give the coordinates of the vector: u1

0
symmetry is vertical, u2 . Notice that since x0 0 , both u1 and u2 are nonzero vectors.
1
Before we can give the coordinates of the other two vectors, we must identify another
dy
x

point on the line through P tangent to the parabola. Recall that

, so the tangent line at
dx 2 p
x
P ( x0 , y0 ) has equation y y0 0 ( x x0 ) , which can be rewritten in slope-intercept form as:
2p

x02
x0
x02
y
x
y0 . This means that the point B 0, y0 is the y-intercept of this tangent
2 p
2p
2p

0 x0 x0

uuu
r

2
line, and since x0 0 , it is distinct from P. Thus, the vector v PB
x02
x

y0
y0
0

2p
2 p
x0

is parallel to the tangent line, as is its opposite, v x02 . Also, since x0 0 , v and v are
2 p
nonzero vectors.
We will show that the angle 1 formed by u1 and v is equal in measure to the angle 2
formed by u2 and v . If these angles are acute, then one is the angle of incidence and so our
physics principle forces us to conclude that the other is the angle of reflection. If the angles are
obtuse, then one is the supplement of the angle of incidence, but then the supplements of 1 and
2 are acute and equal in measure, and so these supplements are the angles of incidence and
reflection. Since v and v lie along the same line, these supplements are still formed by the
vectors ui paired with v . In either case, we can conclude that a beam originating at the focus
and reflecting off point P will be reflected parallel to the axis of symmetry.
Recall that if 1 is the angle of smallest positive measure formed by the nonzero vectors
u1 and v , and if 2 is the angle of smallest positive measure formed by the nonzero vectors u2

u2 v
u1 v
and v , then cos(1 )
and cos( 2 )
. We will compute u1 v , u2 ( v ) , u1 ,
u1 v
u2 v
u2 , and then show that cos(1 ) cos( 2 ) . Since 1 and 2 are both angles of smallest positive
measure with this common cosine value, this will show that 1 and 2 have the same measure.

 x0
First, u1 v

y0 p

x0
x02
2 p

x2 y x2
x02 0 0 0
2p
2

x02 x02
x02 x02 4 p 2

2p 4p
2 p 4 p 4 p
x0
0 2
x2
0 0
Of course, u2 ( v ) x0
2p
1
2 p

we have u1 v

x2 y
x2
0 0 0
2p
2

x 2 x02 4 p 2
0

4 p
2p

x2
x2
0 y0 p . Since y0 0 ,
2p
4p
x2
0 2 x0 4 p 2 .
8p

x2
0 .
2p

Now,
u1 x02 ( y0 p ) 2 x02 y02 2 py0 p 2 x02

x04
x02
x04
x02
2

p2
2
2
16 p
2
16 p
2

x02
x02 4 p 2
1 2
x02

x02
p

0
u

( x0 4 p 2 ) .
, we have 1

p
p . Since
4p
4p
4p
4p
4p
2
2
Of course, u2 0 1 1 .

Putting all of this together with the fact that v v , we have

x02

x02
( x02 4 p 2 )

2 p
8p
u v
x
u2 ( v) cos( ) .
cos(1 ) 1

0
2
u1 v
(1) v
u2 v
1
( x02 4 p 2 ) v 2 p v
4p
Thus, 1 and 2 have the same measure, and so a beam of light originating from the
focus of this parabola will be reflected off the parabola along a path that is parallel to the axis of
symmetry.