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10
Conic Sections

10.1 Parabolas

10.2 Ellipses

10.3 Hyperbolas

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 10.1
Parabolas

Find equations of parabolas

Graph parabolas
Learn the reflective property of
parabolas
Translate parabolas

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 Introduction

Conic Sections are named after the different

ways a plane can intersect a cone.

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 Introduction

The three basic conic sections are

parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. A
circle is an example of an ellipse.

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 Parabola

A parabola is the set of points in a plane

that are equidistant from a fixed point and
a fixed line. The fixed point is called the
focus and the fixed line is called the
directrix of the parabola.

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 Parabola

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 Equation of a Parabola with Vertex (0,0)

Vertical Axis
The parabola with a focus at (0, p) and
directrix y = p has equation

x2 = 4py.

The parabola opens upward if p > 0 and

downward if p < 0.
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 Parabola

Slide 7.1 - 9
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 Equation of a Parabola with Vertex (0,0)

Horizontal Axis
The parabola with a focus at (p, 0) and
directrix x = p has equation

y2 = 4px.

The parabola opens to the right if p > 0

and to the left if p < 0.
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 Example 1
Sketch a graph of each parabola. Label
the vertex, focus and directrix.
a) x2 = 8y b) y2 = 2x
Solution
a) x2 = 4py
8 = 4p
p=2
Vertical axis
P > 0; opens up
Focus: (0, 2)
Directrix: y = 2 Slide 7.1 - 11
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 Example 1
Solution
b) y2 = 2x
y2 = 4px
8 = 4p
0.5 = p
Horizontal axis
Opens left
Focus (0.5, 0)
Directrix: x = 0.5
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 Example 2
Find the equation of the parabola with
focus (1.5, 0) and directrix x = 1.5 as
shown. Sketch a graph of the parabola.

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 Example 2
Solution
Opens toward focus, away from directrix
Opens left; p < 0
Horizontal axis
Vertex midway focus
and directrix; (0, 0)

y2 = 4px
y2 = 4(1.5)x
y2 = 6x
Slide 7.1 - 14
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 Reflective Property of Parabolas
When a parabola is rotated about its axis, it
sweeps out a shape called a paraboloid.

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 Reflective Property of Parabolas
Paraboloids have a special reflective
property. When incoming parallel rays of
light from the sun or distant star strike the
surface of a paraboloid, each ray is
reflected toward the focus.

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 Reflective Property of Parabolas
This property of a paraboloid can also be
used in reverse. If a light source is placed at
the focus, then the light is reflected straight
ahead. Searchlights, flashlights, and car
headlights make use of this property.

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 Equation of a Parabola with Vertex (h, k)
c
x h 4p y k
2

Vertical axis;
Vertex: (h, k);
p > 0 opens upward
p < 0 opens downward
Focus: (h, k + p)
directrix: y = k p

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 Equation of a Parabola with Vertex (h, k)
c
y k 4p x h
2

Horizontal axis;
Vertex: (h, k);
p > 0 opens right
p < 0 opens left
Focus: (h + p, k)
directrix: x = h p

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 Example 4
1

2
Graph the parabola x y 3 2
8
Label the vertex, focus, and directrix.

Solution
Rewrite the equation in standard form.
1

2
x2 y 3
8

2
8 x 2 y 3

y 3 8 x 2
2

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 Example 4
Solution continued
y 3 8 x 2
2

Vertex: (2, 3)
4p = 8
p = 2
p < 0; opens left
Focus 2 units left of
Vertex or (0, 3)
directrix 2 units right
of Vertex x = 4.
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 Example 5
Find the equation of the parabola with
focus (3, 4) and directrix y = 2. Sketch a
graph of the parabola. Label the focus,
directrix, and vertex.
Solution
Sketch the focus
and directrix.
Opens downward
Of the form:
x h 4p y k
2

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 Example 5
Solution continued
Vertex midway between focus and directrix
(3, 1). Distance from
focus to vertex is 3,
so p = 3.
Equation is

x 3 12 y 1
2

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 Example 6
Write 2x = y2 + 4y + 12 in the form
(y k)2 = a(x h).
Solution
Complete the square
2x 12 4 y 4y 4
2

2
2x 8 y 2

2 x 4 y 2
2

Equation is equivalent to y 2 2 x 4 .
2

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