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Conic Sections
1.1
Translation
1.2
Rotation
1.2.1
x
y
1.2.2
If A is a real, symmetric matrix, then A has real eigenvalues and orthogonal eigenvectors, so by the Spectral Theorem there is an orthogonal
similarity P (with columns the eigenvectors) and P T AP = D Diagonal
matrix (where diagonal elements are the eigenvalues of A).
This similarity rotates the coordinate system to eliminate the xy term
giving
aX 2 + bY 2 = 1
1.3
Example 1
I will show 6x2 +3y 2 +4xy = 1 becomes 2X 2 +7Y 2 = 1 via this similarity.
6 2
A=
2 3
Recall eigenvalue and eigenvector equations.
A
x =
x
6
2
2
3
1
2
=2
1
2
6
2
and
2
3
2
1
=7
2
1
Normalize eigenvectors.
P =
1
5
2
5
so
P T AP =
2
0
0
7
2
5
1
5
2
0
X
Y
0
7
= 2X 2 + 7Y 2 = 1
Quadratic Surfaces
x
v = y
z
and B is a real, symmetric 3 3 matrix.
It is possible to analyze quadratic surfaces in the same way as conics. Most quadratic surfaces can be translated so the x,y, and z terms
disappear (except paraboloids).
The resulting equation will have the form ax2 + by 2 + cz 2 + 2gxy +
2hxz + 2kyz = 0 or 1. This can be written as
x
a g h
x y z g b k y = 0 or 1
h k c
z
Since B is real, symmetric, B has orthogonal eigenvectors, and its
eigenvalues are real.
2.1
Example 2
3 2 0
B = 2 2 2
0 2 1
Its not hard to calculate the eigenvectors and eigenvalues:
2/3
2/3
B 2/3 = 5 2/3
1/3
1/3
2/3
2/3
B 1/3 = 2 1/3
2/3
2/3
1/3
1/3
B 2/3 = 1 2/3
2/3
2/3
2/3 2/3
1/3
1/3
2/3
P = 2/3
1/3
2/3
2/3
5 0
0
0
P T BP = 0 2
0 0 1
0
x
5 0
x y z 0 2
0 y = 5x2 + 2y 2 z 2
0 0 1
z
5x2 + 2y 2 = z 2
which is the equation of an elliptic cone.
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