Math 3 (Analytic Geometry)

1. Parabola
A parabolais a locus of all points whose distances from a fixed points and from a fixed line are
always equal. The fixed point is called the focusand the fixed line is called the directrix.

Important terms are:

1) Axis of symmetry (Or principal axis) is the line that connects the vertex and the focus and
passes perpendicularly through the directrix. It divides the parabola into two equal
branches. It is also known as the axes of parabola.
2) Latus rectum is the chord that passes through the focus perpendicular to the axis.
3) Vertex(V) is the point of intersection of the curve and its axis of symmetry. The vertex is
equidistant from the focus, F, and the directrix, D.

General Equation of a Parabola

1) If the axes of symmetry is parallel to the x-axis,

Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F=0

2) If the axes of symmetry is parallel to the y axis,

Ax2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0

Standard equation of a parabola

1) Principal axis is parallel to the x-axis.

a) V (0,0) and opening to the left if p<0

y2 = -4px

b) V (0,0) and opening to the right if p>0

y2 = 4px

2) Principal axis is parallel to the y-axis

a) V (0,0) and opening upward if p>0

x2 = 4py
 b) V (0,0) and opening downward if p<0
x2 = -4py
p distance from focus to vertex
3) Principal axis parallel to the x-axis

a) V (h,k) opens to the right if p>0

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

b) V (h,k) and opens to the left if p<0

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

4) Principal axis parallel to the y-axis

a) V (h,k) opens upward if p>0
(x-h)2=-4p(y-k)

b) V (h,k) and opens downward if p<0

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

When an equation is either in the standard form for a parabola, the locus is a parabola.
however,

1) If (x-h)2=c or (y-k)2=c, where c <0. there is no real locus.

2) If (x-h)2=0 or (y-k)2=0,the locus is 2 coincendent lines.
3) If (x-h) . (y-k)=0 or (y-h) . (y-k)=0, the locus is 2 parallel lines.

Examples:
1) y2 -4y + 12 = 0
(y2-4y+4)=-12+4
(y-2)(y-2)=-8
(y-2)2=-8
Since c<0, there is no real locus

2) y2 -6y + 9 = 0
(y-3)(y-3)=0
(y-3)2=0

y-3= 0 y-3= 0
y=3 y=3
the locus is 2 coincident lines
3) x2 x -12 =0
(x-4)(x+3)=0
x-4=0 x+3=0
x=4 x=-3 x y
-2 12
4) x2-8x-4y+28=0 1
-1 94
(x2-8x+16)=4y -28 +16
(x-4)(x-4)=4y-12 0 7
(x-4)2=4(y-3) 1 9
2 1
54
V(4,3) 3 1
34
4p=4
p=1 4 3
5 1
p>0, axis is parallel to the y-axis. 3
4
Parabola opens upward. 6 4
7 1
5
4
8 7
9 1
9
4
10 12

5) 3y2+2x=0
3y2=-2x
3(y-0)2=-2(x-0)
2
(y-0)2= 3(x-0)
P<0, axis is parallel to the x-axis. Parabola appears to the left.

V(0,0)
2
4p=
3
2 1
p= 3 . 4
1
p= 6
x y
2 -6
1 1
-12
0 0
-1 1
-1 2
-2 -6