Rotation of conic sections

The general form of a conic section is

Ax 2 Bxy Cy 2 Dx Ey F 0
where A, B, C, D, E, F are real numbers.
A specific example is 9x 2 4y 2 36 where A 9, C 4, F 36 and B D E 0.

The type of conic section can be identified by evaluating the term B 2 4AC. The conic section
is:
An ellipse if B 2 4AC 0
A parabola if B 2 4AC 0
A hyperbola if B 2 4AC 0

If the xy term is present B 0 the major axis of the conic section is set at an angle to the
x-axis, otherwise the conic section is symmetric with respect to the x and y axes.
For example: The ellipse 4x 2 9y 2 36 is symmetric with respect to the x and y axes and
4x 8xy 9y 2 36 is set at an angle to the x and y axes (Figure on the left). We talk of a
2

rotated conic section.

We show now how to sketch such a rotated conic section. Consider two coordinate systems:
Firstly the familiar xy set of axes, and secondly the uv set of axes set at an angle in a clockwise
direction to the xy system (Figure on the right) .

y 5 v
5 y
4x+8xy+9y=36
4x+9y=36

-5 5 -5 5
x x

-5 u
-5

The "mixed" xy term in Ax 2 Bxy Cy 2 Dx Ey F 0 can be eliminated and the conic

section transformed to the standard form Pu 2 Qv 2 Ru Sv T 0 by performing the
following three steps:
Step 1. Determine the angle from:
tan 2 B if A C
C A
if A C.
4
Step 2. Determine P, Q, R and S by using the transformation equations:
P Q A C
P Q B
sin 2
R D cos E sin
S D sin E cos
Step 3. Sketch the transformed conic section in the uv system and view the graph in the
xy-system.
 Example 1:
1
The conic section xy 1 (or y x is a rotated hyperbola because of the presence of the
2
xy-term and because B 4AC 1 0.
Step 1. The angle is 4 because A C.
Step 2.
P Q 0
P Q 1
and R S 0.
1 1
from which it follows that P 2
and Q 2
.
The transformed equation is
u2 v2 1
2 2
This hyperbola has its foci on the v axis and it has asymptotes
v u
NB: The lines v u and v u correspond to the x and y axes, respectively.
Step 3. The hyperbola can now be sketched in the uv system. This hyperbola should look
familiar.

Example 2:
The conic section
2x 2 4xy 5y 2 12
is a rotated ellipse because of the presence of the xy-term and because
B 2 4AC 24 0.
Step 1. The angle of rotation is determined from:
tan 2 B 4
C A 3
0
It follows that 0. 463 radians or approximately 26 .
4
It also follows that sin 2 5
(from a basic triangle).
Step 2. The transformed coefficients can be determined from
P Q 7
P Q 4 5
4
5
and R S 0
We then have P 1, Q 6.
The transformed equation is
u 2 6v 2 12
2
or u v2 1
12 2
Step 3.The conic section can be sketched in the uv system.
 4 v
y
2

-4 -2 2 4
x
-2

-4 u

y
5 v

-5 5
x
u

-5