Chapter

14

Implicit Function Graphs

You can graph any one of the following types of implicit functions
using the calculator’s built-in functions.
• Parabolic graph
• Circle graph
• Elliptical graph
• Hyperbolic graph

14-1 Before Graphing an Implicit Function

14-2 Graphing an Implicit Function
14-3 Implicit Function Graph Analysis
14-4 Implicit Function Graphing Precautions
14-1 Before Graphing an Implicit Function
k Entering the CONICS Mode
1. In the Main Menu, select the CONICS icon and enter the CONICS Mode. When
you do, the following built in function menu appears on the screen.

2. Use f and c to highlight the built-in function you want, and then press w.

The following nine functions are built in.

Graph Type Function

Parabola X = A (Y – K)2 + H
X = AY2 + BY + C
Y = A (X – H) 2 + K
Y = AX 2 + BX + C

Circle (X – H)2 + (Y – K)2 = R2

AX 2 + AY2 + BX + CY + D = 0

Ellipse (X – H)2 (Y – K)2

–––––––– + –––––––– =1
A2 B2

Hyperbola (X – H)2 (Y – K)2

––––––––
2 – –––––––– =1
A B2
(Y – K)2 (X – H)2
–––––––– – –––––––– = 1
2
A B2

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14-2 Graphing an Implicit Function

Example 1 To graph the circle (X – 1)2 + (Y – 1)2 = 22

Use the following View Window parameters.

Xmin = –6.3 Ymin = –3.1
Xmax = 6.3 Ymax = 3.1
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

1. Select the function whose graph you want to draw.

cccc

2. Press w and the variable input screen appears.

w Graph function

Function variables

• The values that appear are the values currently assigned to each variable, which
are general variables used by the calculator. If the values include an imaginary
part, only the real part appears on the display.

3. Assign values to each variable.

bw
bw
cw

• You can also use f and c to highlight a

variable and then input a value.
1 2 3 4 5 6

4. Press 6 (DRAW) to draw the graph.

6 (DRAW)

225
14 - 2 Graphing an Implicit Function

• Certain View Window parameters can make a circle graph come out looking like
an ellipse. When this happens, you can use the graph correction function (SQR)
P.155 to make corrections and produce a perfect circle.

(X – 3)2 (Y – 1)2
Example 2 To graph the hyperbola ––––––––––
2
– –––––––––– =1
2 22
Use the following View Window parameters.

Xmin = –8 Ymin = –10

Xmax = 12 Ymax = 10
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

1. Select the function whose graph you want to draw.

ccccccc

2. Press w and the variable input screen appears.

3. Assign values to each variable.

cw
cw
dw
bw

1 2 3 4 5 6
4. Press 6 (DRAW) to draw the graph.

6 (DRAW)

226
 Graphing an Implicit Function 14 - 2
• A parabola is the locus of points equidistant from fixed line l and fixed point F
not on the line. Fixed point F is the “focus,” fixed line l is the “directrix,” the
horizontal line that passes through the focus directrix is the “axis of symmetry,”
the length of a straight line that intersects the parabola, passes through the
locus, and is parallel to fixed line l is the “latus rectum,” and point A where the
parabola intersects the axis of symmetry is the “vertex.”
Directrix l

Latus rectum
Vertex A
Axis of symmetry
Focus F (p, 0)

• An ellipse is the locus of points the sum of the distances of each of which from
two fixed points F and F’ is constant. Points F and F’ are the “foci,” points A, A’,
B, and B’ where the ellipse intersects the x- and y-axes are the “vertexes,” the
x-coordinate values of vertexes A and A’ are called x-intercepts, and the y-
coordinate values of vertexes B and B’ are called y-intercepts.

y-intercept B

x-intercept A’ x-intercept A
Focus F’ Focus F

y-intercept B’

• A hyperbola is the locus of points related to two given points F and F’ such that
the difference in distances of each point from the two given points is constant.
Points F and F’ are the “foci,” points A and A’ where the hyperbola intersects
the x-axis are the “vertexes,” the x-coordinate values of vertexes A and A’ are
called x-intercepts, the y-coordinate values of vertexes A and A’ are called y-
intercepts, and straight lines i and i' , which get closer to the hyperbola as they
move away from the foci are “asymptotes.”

Asymptote l

Focus F' Vertex Vertex Focus F

A’ A

Asymptote l'

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14-3 Implicit Function Graph Analysis
You can determine approximations of the following analytical results using implicit
function graphs.

• Focus/vertex calculation
• Latus rectum calculation
• Center/radius calculation
• x-/y-intercept calculation
• Directrix/axis of symmetry drawing and analysis
• Asymptote drawing and analysis

After graphing an implicit function, press 5 (G-Solv) to display the Graph Analysis
Menu.

• Parabolic Graph Analysis

1 (FOCS) .... Determines the focus.
1 2 3 4 5 6
2 (SYM) ....... Draws the axis of symmetry.
3 (DIR) ........ Draws the directrix.
4 (VTX) ....... Determines the vertex.
5 (LEN) ....... Determines the latus rectum.

• Circle Graph Analysis

1 (CNTR) .... Determines the center.
1 2 3 4 5 6
2 (RADS) .... Determines the radius.

• Ellipse Graph Analysis

1 (FOCS) .... Determines the focus.
1 2 3 4 5 6
2 (X-IN) ....... Determines the x-intercept.
3 (Y-IN) ........ Determines the y-intercept.

• Hyperbolic Graph Analysis

1 (FOCS) .... Determines the focus.
1 2 3 4 5 6
2 (X-IN) ....... Determines the x-intercept.
3 (Y-IN) ........ Determines the y-intercept.
4 (VTX) ....... Determines the vertex.
5 (ASYM) .... Determines the asymptote.

The following examples show how to use the above menus with various types of
implicit function graphs.

228
 Implicit Function Graph Analysis 14 - 3
u To calculate the focus and vertex

Example To determine the focus and vertex for the parabola

X = (Y – 2)2 + 3.
Use the following View Window parameters.
Xmin = –1 Ymin = –5
Xmax = 10 Ymax = 5
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

5 (G-Solv)

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 (FOCS)
(Calculates the focus.)

5 (G-Solv)

1 2 3 4 5 6

4 (VTX)
(Calculates the vertex.)

• When calculating two foci for an ellipse or hyperbolic graph, press e to calcu-
late the second focus. Pressing d returns to the first focus.
• When calculating two vertexes for a hyperbolic graph, press e to calculate the
second vertex. Pressing d returns to the first vertex.

u To calculate the latus rectum

Example To determine the latus rectum for the parabola X = (Y – 2)2 + 3

Use the following View Window parameters.

Xmin = –1 Ymin = –5
Xmax = 10 Ymax = 5
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

5 (G-Solv)

1 2 3 4 5 6

229
14 - 3 Implicit Function Graph Analysis

5 (LEN)
(Calculates the latus rectum.)

u To calculate the center and radius

Example To determine the center and radius for the circle X2 + Y2 – 2X –

2Y – 3 = 0
Use the following View Window parameters.
Xmin = –6.3 Ymin = –3.1
Xmax = 6.3 Ymax = 3.1
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

5 (G-Solv)

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 (CNTR)
(Calculates the center.)

5 (G-Solv)

1 2 3 4 5 6

2 (RADS)
(Calculates the radius.)

230
 Implicit Function Graph Analysis 14 - 3
u To calculate the x- and y-intercepts

Example To determine the x- and y-intercepts for the hyperbola

(X – 1)2 (Y – 1)2
–––––––––– – –––––––––– =1
22 22

Use the following View Window parameters.

Xmin = –6.3 Ymin = –3.1
Xmax = 6.3 Ymax = 3.1
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

5 (G-Solv)

1 2 3 4 5 6

2 (X-IN)
(Calculates the x-intercept.)

5 (G-Solv)

1 2 3 4 5 6

3 (Y-IN)
(Calculates the y-intercept.)

• Press e to calculate the second set of x-/y-intercepts. Pressing d returns to

the first set of intercepts.

u To draw and analyze the axis of symmetry and directrix

Example To draw the axis of symmetry and directrix for the parabola
X = 2(Y – 1)2 + 1

Use the following View Window parameters.

Xmin = –6.3 Ymin = –3.1
Xmax = 6.3 Ymax = 3.1
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

5 (G-Solv)
1 2 3 4 5 6
231
14 - 3 Implicit Function Graph Analysis

2 (SYM)
(Draws the axis of symmetry.)

5 (G-Solv)
1 2 3 4 5 6

3 (DIR)
(Draws the axis of directrix.)

u To draw and analyze the asymptotes

Example To draw the asymptotes for the hyperbola

(X – 1)2 (Y – 1)2
–––––––––– – –––––––––– = 1
22 22
Use the following View Window parameters.

Xmin = –6.3 Ymin = –5

Xmax = 6.3 Ymax = 5
Xscale = 1 Yscale = 1

5 (G-Solv) 1 2 3 4 5 6

5 (ASYM)
(Draws the asymptotes.)

• Certain View Window parameters can produce errors in graph analysis result
values.
• The message ”Not Found” appears on the display when graph analysis is
unable to produce a result.
• The following can result in inaccurate analysis results or may even make it
impossible to obtain a solution at all.
• When the solution is tangent to the x-axis.
• When the solution is a point of tangency between two graphs.
232
14-4 Implicit Function Graphing Precautions
• Assigning the following types of values to variables contained in built-in function
produces an error.

(1) Parabola graph

A=0

(2) Circle graph

R = 0 for (X – H)2 + (Y – K)2 = R2
A = 0 for AX2 + AY2 + BX + CY + D = 0

(3) Ellipse/hyperbola graph

A = 0 or B = 0

• You cannot overwrite implicit function graphs.

• The calculator automatically clears the screen before drawing a new implicit func-
tion graph.
• You can use trace, scroll, zoom, or sketch after graphing an implicit function.
However, an implicit function graph cannot be scrolled while using trace.
• You cannot incorporate graphing of an implicit function into a program.

233