By: Jeffrey Bivin

Lake Zurich High School

jeff.bivin@lz95.org

LastBivin
Jeff Updated: March 11, 2008
-- LZHS
 Parabola
The set of all points that are equidistant
from a given point (focus) and a given line
(directrix).

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

 Parabola
Distance between focus and vertex = p

1
note : p y ax 2 bx c
4a

Distance between vertex and directrix = p

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Parabola
The line segment through the focus
perpendicular to the axis of symmetry with
endpoints on the parabola is called the
Latus Rectum (LR)

Length of the LR = 4p
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
y = 3x2 + 24x + 53
3(4)2 = 48 y = 3(x2 + 8x ) + 53
y + 48 = 3(x2 + 8x + (4)2) + 53
y = 3(x2 + 8x + (4)2) + 53 - 48
y = 3(x + 4)2 + 5
x+4=0
Axis of symmetry: x = -4
Vertex: (-4, 5)
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola

y = 3(x + 4)2 + 5

Axis of symmetry: x = -4
Vertex: (-4, 5)
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
y = 3(x + 4)2 + 5

Axis of symmetry: x = -4
Vertex: (-4, 5) 4, 5 121
p 1
4a 1
4 ( 3) 1
12

Focus: 4, 5 121 4, 5 121

Directrix: y 5 121 y 4 12
11

Length of LR: 4 p 4121 1

3

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

 Graph the following parabola
y = -2x2 + 12x + 11
-2(-3)2 = -18 y = -2(x2 - 6x ) + 11
y - 18 = -2(x2 - 6x + (-3)2) + 11
y = -2(x2 - 6x + (-3)2) + 11 + 18
y = -2(x - 3)2 + 29
x-3=0
Axis of symmetry: x=3
Vertex: (3, 29)
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
y = -2(x - 3)2 + 29
y 29 18
Axis of symmetry: x=3
Vertex: (3, 29)
p 1
4a 1
4( 2) 1
8 3, 28 78
Focus: 3, 29 18
Directrix: y 29 18
Length of LR: 4 p 418 1
2

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

 Graph the following parabola
x = y2 + 10y + 8
(5)2 = 25 x = (y2 + 10y )+8
x + 25 = (y2 + 10y + (5)2) + 8
x = (y2 + 10y + (5)2) + 8 - 25
x = (y + 5)2 - 17
y+5=0
Axis of symmetry: y = -5
Vertex: (-17, -5)
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
x = (y + 5)2 - 17
x 17 14
Axis of symmetry: y = -5
16 34 , 5
Vertex: (-17, -5)
p 1
4a 1
4(1) 1
4

Focus: 17 14 , 5
Directrix: x 17 14
Length of LR: 4 p 4 14 1
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
x = -2y2 - 8y - 1
-2(2)2 = -8 x = -2(y2 + 4y )-1
x - 8 = -2(y2 + 4y + (2)2) - 1
x = -2(y2 + 4y + (2)2) - 1 + 8
x = -2(y + 2)2 + 7
y+2=0
Axis of symmetry: y = -2
Vertex: (7, -2)
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
x = -2(y + 2)2 + 7
1
x7
Axis of symmetry: y = -2 8

Vertex: (7, -2)

p 1
4a 1
4( 2) 1
8 6 78 , 2
Focus: 7 1
8 , 2
Directrix: x 7 18
Length of LR: 4 p 418 1
2

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

 Graph the following parabola
y = 5x2 - 30x + 46
5(-3)2 = 45 y = 5(x2 - 6x ) + 46
y + 45 = 5(x2 - 6x + (-3)2) + 46
y = 5(x2 - 6x + (-3)2) + 46 - 45
y = 5(x - 3)2 + 1
x-3=0
Axis of symmetry: x=3
Vertex: (3, 1)
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
y = 5(x - 3)2 + 1

Axis of symmetry: x=3

Vertex: (3, 1) 3, 1 201
p 1
4a 1
4 ( 5) 1
20

Focus: 3, 1 1
20

Directrix: y 1 20
1
y 19

20

Length of LR: 4 p 4 1
20
1
5

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

 Graph the following parabola
1
x= 2 y2 - 4y + 11
1
(16) 8 x= 1
(y2 - 8y ) + 11
2 2
1
x+8= 2 (y2 - 8y + (-4)2) + 11
1
x= 2 (y2 - 8y + (-4)2) + 11 - 8
1
x= 2 (y - 4)2 + 3
y-4=0
Axis of symmetry: y=4
Vertex: (3, 4)
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
 Graph the following parabola
1
x= 2
(y - 4)2 + 3

Axis of symmetry: y = 4
Vertex: (3, 4)
p 1
1
1 3 12 , 4
4a 4 ( 12 ) 2

Focus: 3 1
2 ,4
Directrix: x 3 1 x 2 12

2
2
Length of LR: 4 p 4 1
2

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

 A Web Site & Sketchpad demo
http://www.xahlee.org/SpecialPlaneCurves_dir/Parabola_dir/parabolaReflect.mov

A sketchpad demo:

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS