10-1

10-1 Introduction
Introduction to
to Conic
Conic Sections
Sections

Warm Up
Lesson Presentation
Lesson Quiz

Holt
Holt Algebra
Algebra 22
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

Warm Up
Solve for y.

1. x2 + y2 = 1

2. 4x2 – 9y2 = 1

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

Objectives
Recognize conic sections as
intersections of planes and cones.
Use the distance and midpoint formulas
to solve problems.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

Vocabulary
conic section

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

Every conic section can be defined in terms of

distances. You can use the Midpoint and Distance
Formulas to find the center and radius of a circle.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

In Chapter 5, you studied the

parabola. The parabola is one
of a family of curves called
conic sections. Conic
sections are formed by the
intersection of a double right
cone and a plane. There are
four types of conic sections:
circles, ellipses, hyperbolas,
and parabolas.
Although the parabolas you studied in Chapter 5 are
functions, most conic sections are not. This means
that you often must use two functions to graph a
conic section on a calculator.
Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

A circle is the set of points in a plane that are a fixed

distance, called the radius, from a fixed point, called
the center. Because all of the points on a circle are
the same distance from the center of the circle, you
can use the Distance Formula to find the equation of
a circle.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Because a diameter must
pass through the center of
a circle, the midpoint of a
diameter is the center of
the circle. The radius of a
circle is the distance from
the center to any point on
the circle and equal to half
the diameter.
Helpful Hint
The midpoint formula uses averages. You can
think of xM as the average of the x-values and yM
as the average of the y-values.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Example 3: Finding the Center and Radius of a Circle

Find the center and radius of a circle that has

a diameter with endpoints (5, 4) and (0, –8).

Step 1 Find the center of the circle.

Use the Midpoint Formula with the endpoints
(5, 4) and (0, –8).

5+0 4–8
( 2 , 2 ) = (2.5, –2)

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Example 3 Continued
Step 2 Find the radius.
Use the Distance Formula with (2.5, –2) and
(0, –8)

The radius of the circle is 6.5

Check Use the other endpoint (5, 4) and the
center (2.5, –2). The radius should equal 6.5 for
any point on the circle.

r = ( 5 – 2.5)2 + (4 – (–2))2 
The radius is the same using (5, 4).
Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Check It Out! Example 3

Find the center and radius of a circle that has

a diameter with endpoints (2, 6) and (14, 22).

Step 1 Find the center of the circle.

Use the Midpoint Formula with the endpoints
(2, 6) and (14, 22).

( 2 + 14
2
, 6 + 22
2
) = (8, 14)

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Check It Out! Example 3 Continued
Step 2 Find the radius.
Use the Distance Formula with (8, 14) and
(14, 22).

The radius of the circle is 10.

Check Use the other endpoint (2, 6) and the
center (8, 14). The radius should equal 10 for any
point on the circle.

r = ( 2 – 8)2 + (6 – 14)2 
The radius is the same using (2, 6).
Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

Notice that r2 and the center are visible in the equation of a

circle. This leads to a general formula for a circle with center (h,
k) and radius r.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Example 2B: Writing the Equation of a Circle

Write the equation of the circle.

the circle with center (–4, 11) and containing
the point (5, –1)

Use the Distance Formula to

find the radius.

(x + 4)2 + (y – 11)2 = 152 Substitute the values into the

equation of a circle.

(x + 4)2 + (y – 11)2 = 225

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Check It Out! Example 2

Find the equation of the circle with center (–3, 5)

and containing the point (9, 10).

Use the Distance Formula

to find the radius.

(x + 3)2 + (y – 5)2 = 132 Substitute the values into

the equation of a circle.
2 2
(x + 3) + (y – 5) = 169

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections

A tangent is a line in the same plane as the circle that

intersects the circle at exactly one point. Recall from
geometry that a tangent to a circle is perpendicular to
the radius at the point of tangency.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Example 4: Writing the Equation of a Tangent

Write the equation of the line tangent to the circle x2 +

y2 = 29 at the point (2, 5).

Step 1 Identify the center and radius of the circle.

From the equation x2 + y2 = 29, the circle has center of

(0, 0) and radius r = .

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Example 4 Continued
Step 2 Find the slope of the radius at the point of tangency
and the slope of the tangent.

Use the slope formula.

Substitute (2, 5) for (x2 , y2 )

and (0, 0) for (x1 , y1 ).
5
The slope of the radius is 2 .

Because the slopes of perpendicular lines are negative

2
reciprocals, the slope of the tangent is . – 5
Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Example 4 Continued

Step 3 Find the slope-intercept equation of the tangent by

using the point (2, 5) and the slope
m = – .2
5

Use the point-slope formula.

2
Substitute (2, 5) (x1 , y1 ) and – 5
for m.

Rewrite in slope-intercept form.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Example 4 Continued

The equation of the line that is tangent to x2 + y2 =

29 at (2, 5) is .

Check Graph the circle

and the line.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Check It Out! Example 4

Write the equation of the line that is tangent to the

circle 25 = (x – 1)2 + (y + 2)2, at the point (1, –2).

Step 1 Identify the center and radius of the circle.

From the equation 25 = (x – 1)2 +(y + 2)2, the circle has

center of (1, –2) and radius r = 5.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Check It Out! Example 4 Continued

Step 2 Find the slope of the radius at the point of tangency

and the slope of the tangent.

Use the slope formula.

Substitute (5, –5) for (x2 , y2 )

and (1, –2) for (x1 , y1 ).
–3
The slope of the radius is 4
.

Because the slopes of perpendicular lines are negative

reciprocals, the slope of the tangent is .
Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Check It Out! Example 4 Continued

Step 3. Find the slope-intercept equation of the tangent by

using the point (5, –5) and the slope .

Use the point-slope formula.

4
Substitute (5, –5 ) for (x1 , y1 ) and 3
for m.
Rewrite in slope-intercept form.

Holt Algebra 2
10-1 Introduction to Conic Sections
Check It Out! Example 4 Continued

The equation of the line that is tangent to 25 =

(x – 1)2 + (y + 2)2 at (5, –5) is .

Check Graph the

circle and the line.

Holt Algebra 2