HYPERBOLA

Hyperbolas and Their

Equations
 WHAT IS HYPERBOLA?
It is an open curve that has no ends.

It is a two separate curvesin mirror

image.

It is a conic whose eccentricity is

greater than 1.

It is a curve where the distances of any

point from a fixed point ( focus) and a
fixed straight line (directrix) are always
in the same ratio.
 PARTS OF
HYPERBOLA

Transverse Axis
Conjugate Axis
Center
Vertices
Foci
The Asymptotes
Latus Rectum
TRANSVERSE AXIS
The line that contains the foci
and goes through the center
of the hyperbola.
2a
The distance from the
center to each vertex is a
unit.
The transverse axis is 2a
units long.

a
CONJUGATE
AXIS
The line that is perpendicular to
the transverse axis and goes
through the center of the
hyperbola.
The distance from the center
to the rectangle along the 2b
conjugate axis is b units
The length of the
conjugate axis is 2b units.
b
 CENTER

The midpoint of the line

segment between the two foci
and two vertices.

The distance from the

center to each focus is c
units where = +
VERTICES

The two points of intersection of

the hyperbola and the transverse
axis; V1 and V2.

Endpoints of transverse axis.

CO-VERTICES
Endpoints of conjugate axis.
FOCI

It lie on the transverse axis,

eachcunits from the center
= +.

Always on the transverse axis.

Lie inside of the hyperbola.

THE ASYMPTOTES
It contain the diagonals of a
rectangle centered at the
hyperbolas center.
Lines that are approached
but not touched or crossed.
Boundaries of the hyperbola.
It is the line that forms a
"barrier" to a curve.
The curve gets closer and closer
to an asymptote, but does not
touch it.
LATUS RECTUM

Itis the line through the focus and

parallel to the directrix.

The length of the Latus Rectum is .

EQUATIONS
HYPERBOLA WITH HORIZONTAL
TRANSVERSE AXIS WITH CENTER AT
(0,0)
An equation of the hyperbola with
center at (0,0), foci at (-c, 0) and
(c,0), and vertices at (-a, 0) and (a,
0) is

= 1where =-

The transverse axis is the x-axis.

HYPERBOLA WITH VERTICAL
TRANSVERSE AXIS WITH CENTER AT
(0,0)
An equation of the hyperbola with
center at (0,0), foci at (0, -c,) and (0,
c), and vertices at (0, -a) and (0, a)
is

= 1where =-

The transverse axis is the y-axis.

HYPERBOLA WITH HORIZONTAL
TRANSVERSE AXIS WITH
CENTER (H,K)

( x h) ( y k )
2 2

2
2
1
a b
East West Opening hyperbola

If x term is positive, hyperbola opens left & right

a2 is always the positive denominator

 HYPERBOLA WITH VERTICAL
TRANSVERSE AXIS WITH
CENTER (H,K)

( y k ) ( x h)
2 2

2
2
1
a b
North South Hyperbola

If y term is positive, hyperbola opens up & down

a2 is always the positive denominator

EQUATIONS OF THE ASYMPTOTES
EQUATIONS OF THE ASYMPTOTES FOR A
HYPERBOLA THAT OPENS UP & DOWN

a
y k ( x h)
b
EQUATIONS OF THE ASYMPTOTES FOR A
HYPERBOLA THAT OPENS LEFT & RIGHT

b
y k ( x h)
a
Identify the direction of opening, the
coordinates of the center, the vertices, and
the foci. Find the equations of the
asymptotes and sketch the graph:

1.



Direction of opening: horizontally

Center : (0,0)
Vertices : a2 = 16
a=;
(-4,0) & (4,0)
Co-vertices : b2 = 9
b=
(-3,0) & (3,0)
Foci : c2 = a 2 + b 2
= 16 + 9
= 25
=;

(-5,0) & (5,0)
Asymptotes :
y=