Conics - Cheat Sheet 1

Ellipse Hyperbola
x2 y2
a2
+ b2
=1 e>1

x2 y2 y2 x2
0<e<1 a2
− b2
=1 b2
− a2
=1

When a > b When a < b b2 = a2 (e2 − 1) a2 = b2 (e2 − 1)

q q
2 2 2 2 2 2 b2 a2
b = a (1 − e ) a = b (1 − e ) e= 1+ a2
e= 1+ b2

q q
b2 a2
e= 1− a2
e= 1− b2
Foci: (±ae, 0) Foci: (0, ±be)

Foci: (±ae, 0) Foci: (0, ±be) Directrixes: x = ± ae Directrixes: y = ± eb

Directrixes: x = ± ae Directrixes: y = ± eb Asymptote: y = ± ab x Asymptote: y = ± ab x

Major Axis: 2a Major Axis: 2b Major Axis: 2a Major Axis: 2b

P S + P S 0 = 2a |P S − P S 0 | = 2a

Parametric: x = a cos θ, y = b sin θ Parametric: x = a sec θ, y = b tan θ

Cartesian Parametric Cartesian Parametric

Tangent Tangent

xx1 yy1 x cos θ y sin θ xx1 yy1 x sec θ y tan θ

a2
+ b2
=1 a
+ b
=1 a2
− b2
=1 a
+ b
=1

Normal Normal

a2 x b2 y by a2 x b2 y ax by
x1
− y1
= a2 − b2 ax
cos θ
− sin θ
= a2 − b 2 x1
+ y1
= a2 + b 2 sec θ
+ tan θ
= a2 + b 2

xx0 yy0 xx0 yy0

Chord of Contact: a2
+ b2
=1 Chord of Contact: a2
− b2
=1
Conics - Cheat Sheet 2

Geometric Properties of The Ellipse and Hyperbola

The chord of contact made from a point on the directrix of the ellipse or hyperbola is a focal
chord through the corresponding focus. Conversely, if two tangents meet at the end of a
focal chord, they meet on the directrix.

The angle made between a point on the ellipse or hyperbola, the directrix, and the focus is
a right angle at the focus.

The tangent and normal at a point on the ellipse or hyperbola makes the same angle with
both of the focal chords.