Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html Parabola Equations MathBitsNotebook.com Topical Outline | Geometry Outline | MathBits' Teacher Resources Terms of Use Contact Person: Donna Roberts A parabola is a conic section. It is a slice of a right cone parallel to one side (a generating line) of the cone. Like the circle, the parabola is a quadratic relation, but unlike the circle, either x will be squared or y will be squared, but not both. You worked with parabolas in Algebra 1 when you graphed quadratic equations. We will now be investigating the conic form of the parabola equation to learn more about the parabola's graph. A parabola is defined as the set (locus) of points that are equidistant from both the directrix (a fixed straight line) and the focus (a fixed point). This definition may be hard to visualize. Let's take a look. For ANY point on a parabola, the distance from that point to the focus is the same as the distance from that point to the directrix. (Looks like hairy spider legs!) Notice that the "distance" being measured to the directrix is always the shortest distance (the perpendicular distance). The focus is a point which lies "inside" the The specific distance from the vertex (the turning parabola on the axis of symmetry. The point of the parabola) to the focus is traditionally directrix is a line that is ⊥ to the axis of labeled "p". Thus, the distance from the vertex to the symmetry and lies "outside" the parabola directrix is also "p". (not intersecting with the parabola). Conic Equations of Parabolas: 1 of 9 1/8/2019, 4:21 PM Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html You recognize the equation of a parabola as being y = x2 or y = ax2 + bx + c from your study of quadratics. And, of course, these remain popular equation forms of a parabola. But, if we examine a parabola in relation to its focal point (focus) and directrix, we can determine more information about the parabola. We are now going to look more closely at the coefficient of the x2 term to see what additional information it can tell us about the graph of the parabola. Keep in mind that all information you already know about parabolas remains true! Parabola with Vertex at Origin (0,0) (axis of symmetry parallel to the y-axis) Conic Forms of Parabola Equations: with the vertex at (0,0), focus at (0, p) and directrix y = -p In the example at the right, the coefficient of x² is 1, so , making p = ¼. The distance from the vertex (in this case the origin) to the The vertex is (0,0), the focus is (0,¼), and the focus is traditionally labeled as "p". directrix is y = -¼. The leading coefficient in y = ax2 + bx + c is labeled "a". So when examining the coefficient of x2, we are examining a. p is the distance from the vertex to the focus. You remember the vertex form of a parabola as being y = a(x - h)2 + k where (h, k) is the vertex of the parabola. If we let the coefficient of x2 (or a) = and perform some algebraic maneuvering, we can get the next equation. 2 of 9 1/8/2019, 4:21 PM Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html Parabola with Vertex at (h, k) (axis of symmetry parallel to the y-axis) (Known as "standard form".) Conic Form of Parabola Equation: (x - h)2 = 4p(y - k) with the vertex at (h, k), the focus at (h, k+p) and the directrix y = k - p Since the example at the right is a translation of the previous graph, the relationship between the parabola and its focus and directrix remains the same (p = ¼). So with a vertex of (2,-3), we have: This "new" equation is just another form 2 of the old "vertex form" of a parabola. (x - 2) = 4(¼) (y - (-3)) OLD: y = (x - 2)² - 3 (x - 2)2 = y + 3 NEW: (x - 2)² = y + 3 The focus is at (2,-3+¼) or (2,-2¾) and the directrix is y = -3-¼ or y = -3¼ S O M E T H I N G N E W ! ! ! Up to this point, all of your parabolas have been either opening upward or opening downward, depending upon whether the leading coefficient was positive or negative respectively. The axis of symmetry of those parabolas is parallel to the y-axis. We will now be looking at a parabola that opens to the right or to the left ("sideways"), with its axis of symmetry parallel to the x-axis. 3 of 9 1/8/2019, 4:21 PM Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html "Sideways" Parabola Vertex (0,0) (axis of symmetry parallel to x-axis) Conic Forms of Parabola Equations: with the vertex at (0,0), focus at (p, 0), and directrix x = -p We will now be examining the coefficient of y², instead of x². In the example at the right, the coefficient of y² is 1, so , making p = ¼. For parabolas opening to the right or The vertex is (0,0), the focus is (¼,0), and the to the left, the y-variable is being directrix is x = -¼. squared (instead of the x² we are used to seeing for parabolas). "Sideways" Parabolas Vertex (h,k) (axis of symmetry parallel to x-axis) Conic Form of Parabola Equation: (y - k)2 = 4p(x - h) with the vertex at (h, k), the focus at (h+p, k) and the directrix x = h - p Sideways Equation in Standard Vertex Form: x = a(y - k)2 + h with the vertex at (h, k). Notice that parabolas that open right Since the example at the right is a translation of the or left, are NOT functions. They fail previous graph, the relationship between the the vertical line test for functions. parabola and its focus and directrix remains the These parabolas are considered relations. same. The Standard "Vertex Form" In the example at the right, and the Conic Form are the same: (y - 1)2 = 4(¼) (x - (-2)) VERTEX FORM: x = (y - 1)² - 2 CONIC FORM: (y - 1)² = x + 2 (y - 1)2 = x + 2 4 of 9 1/8/2019, 4:21 PM Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html The vertex is (-2,1), the focus is (-1¾,1) and the directrix is y = -2¼. S u m m i n g U p: (p is distance from vertex to focus) Vertical Parabola (up/down) Horizontal Parabola (left-right) Vertex (0,0): Vertex (0,0): Vertex (h,k): Vertex (h,k): Deriving the Conic Parabola Equation: 5 of 9 1/8/2019, 4:21 PM Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html Deriving the Parabola Equation Start by placing the parabola's vertex at the origin, for ease of computation. By definition, the distance, p, from the origin to the focus will equal the distance from the origin to the directrix (which will be y = -p). The focus is point F and FA = AB by definition. Using the Distance Formula, we know The distance from the vertex (origin) to the Since we know FA = AB, we have focus is traditionally labeled as "p". ("p" is also the distance from the vertex to the directrix.) Examples: Given x2 = 16y, state whether the parabola opens upward, downward, right or left, and state the coordinates of the focus. ANSWER: Since this "form" squares x, and the value of 4p is Form: x2 = 4py positive, the parabola opens upward. 6 of 9 1/8/2019, 4:21 PM Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html 4p = 16 This form of parabola has its vertex at the origin, (0,0). p = 4 The focal length (distance from vertex to focus) is 4 units. The focal length is 4. The focus is located at (0,4). Given the parabola, (x - 3)2 = -8(y - 2), state whether the parabola opens upward, downward, right or left, and state the coordinates of the vertex, the focus, and the equation of the directrix. ANSWER: Since this "form" squares x, and the value of 4p is Form: (x - h)2 = 4p(y - k) negative, the parabola opens downward. Vertex: (h,k) = (3,2) This form of parabola has its vertex at (h,k) = (3,2). 4p = 8 The focal length (distance from vertex to focus) is 2 units. p = 2 The focus is located at (3,0). The focal length is 2. The directrix is y = 4. Write the equation of a parabola with a vertex at the origin and a focus of (0,-3). ANSWER: Make a sketch. Remember that the parabola opens "around" the focus. Vertex: (0,0) and Focus: (0,-3) Focal length p = 3. Opening downward means negative. Form of Equation: x2 = 4py EQUATION: x2 = 4(-3)y x2 = -12y Find the focus and directrix of the parabola whose equation is x2 - 6x + 3y + 18 = 0. 7 of 9 1/8/2019, 4:21 PM Parabola Equations - MathBitsNotebook(Geo - CCSS Math) https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Geometry/Equations/EQParabola.html ANSWER: You need to complete the square so the vertex, focus and directrix information will be visible. • The vertex is (3,-3). • The x-squared term indicates the parabola opens upward or downward. • The negative value indicates the parabola opens downward. • The focal length, p, is: 4p = 3; p = ¾ • The focus is at (3, -3¾) • The directrix is y = -2¼ Write the equation of a parabola whose focus (-2,1) and whose directrix is x = -6.