FI I TJEE PRACTICE SHEET - PARABOLA

L I M I T E D

1. Conic sections: It is the locus of a point moving in a plane so that the ratio of its distance from a fixed
point (Focus) to its distance from a fixed line (directrix) is constant. This ratio is known as eccentricity
(denoted by e)
If e = 1, then locus is a parabola.
If e < 1, then locus is an ellipse
If e > 1, then locus is a Hyperbola
2. Recognisation of conics:
The equation of conics represented by the general equation of second degree
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 …………(i)
can be recognize easily by the condition given in the tabular form for this, first we have to find
discriminant of the equation.
We know that the discriminant of above equation is represented by
 Where  = abc + 2fgh − af2 − bg2 −ch2
Case (1) When  = 0
In this case equation (i) represents the degenerate conic whose nature is given in the following table:
S. No. Condition Nature of conic
1.  = 0 and ab − h = 0
2 A pair of straight parallel lines or empty set.
2.  = 0 and ab − h  0
2 A pair of intersecting straight lines.
3.  = 0 and ab < h2 Real or Imaginary pair of straight lines.
4.  = 0 and ab > h2 Point
Case (2) When   0
In this case equation (i) represents the Non – Degenerate conic whose nature is given in the following
table:
S. No. Condition Nature of conic
1.   0; h = 0; a = b A circle
2.   0 and h2 = ab A parabola
3.   0 and h2 < ab An ellipse or empty set
4.   and h2 > ab A hyperbola
5.   0; h2 > ab and a + b = 0 A rectangular hyperbola

3. How to find the centre of conics:

If S  ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 Partially differentiating w.r.to x and y we get
s s
= 2ax + 2hy + 2g; = 2hx + 2by + 2f  ax + hy + g = 0; hx + by + f = 0
x y
solving these equations, we get the centre.

4. Study of all parabolas in Table Form

Equation of parabolas Y2 = 4ax P
Y2 = −P 4ax X2 = 4ay X2 = − 4ay M
Figures M
90 M P
90 90
S S
S
S
90
P

Vertex (0, 0) (0, 0) (0, 0) (0, 0)

Focus (a, 0) (−a, 0) (0, a) (0, −a)
Equation of the axis y=0 y=0 x=0 x=0
Equation of the directrix x+a=0 x−a=0 y+a=0 y−a=0
Length of Latus Rectum 4a 4a 4a 4a
Extremities of latus (a,  2a) (−a,  2a) (2a, a) (2a, −a)
Rectum
Equation of latus Rectum x−a=0 x+a=0 y−a=0 y+a=0

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 Equation of tangent at x=0 x=0 y=0 y=0
vertex
Parametric co-ordinates (at2, 2at) (−at2, 2at) (2at, at2) (2at, −at2)
Eccentricity 1 1 1 1

5. General equation of parabola:

General equation of second degree will represent a parabola only if second degree terms in the
equation form a perfect square.
Note:- (i) Equation of the parabola with axis parallel to the x – axis is of the form
x = Ay2 + By + c.
(ii) Equation of the parabola with axis parallel to the y- axis is the form y = Ax2 + Bx + C.
6. Parametric equations of the parabola y2 = 4ax
The parametric equations of the parabola y-2 = 4ax are x = at2; y = 2at, where t is the parameter,

7. Position of a point (h, k) with respect to a parabola y 2 = 4ax

Let P be any point (h, k). Now P will lie outside, on or inside the parabola according as
(k2 − 4ah) >, =, < 0

8. Focal distance of any point Y

P
The focal distance of any point P on the parabola y2 = 4ax is the M
distance between the point P and the focus S i.e. PS Thus the 90
focal distance = PS = PM = ZN = ZA + AN = a + x. Z A S N X

9. Tangent to a parabola
(A) Tangent at the point (x 1, y1)
Equation of the tangent at the point (x 1, y1) on the parabola y2 = 4ax is yy1 = 2a(x + x1) where slope
2a
of the tangent =
y1
(B) Tangent is terms of m
Let the parabola y2 = 4ax and the line y = mx + c
a  a 2a 
Hence y = mx + ; (m  0) touches the parabola y2 = 4ax at  m2 , m 
m  
(C) Tangent at the point (t)
Equation of tangent at any point ‘t’ is
ty = x + at2
Note: (i) co-ordinates of the point intersection of tangents at ‘t 1’ and ‘t2’ is {at1t2, a(t1 + t2)}
1
(ii) If the chord joining ‘t1’ and ‘t2’ to be a focal chord then t 1t2= −1  t 2 = −
t1
( )
Hence if one extremity of a focal chord is at12 ,2at1 , then the other extremity ( at ,2at ) becomes
2
1 1

 a −2a 
 2, 
 t1 t1 

10. (A) Equation of the tangents from an external point:

Let y2 = 4ax be the equation of a parabola and (x 1, y1) and external point P. Then equation of the
tangents is given by SS1 = T2, where S = y2 − 4ax; S1 = y1 − 4ax1 ,
2

T = yy1 − 2a(x + x1)

(B) Chord of contact:

Equation of the chord of contact of the tangents drawn from a point (x1, y1), to the parabola y2 = 4ax is
T = 0 i.e. yy1 − 2a(x + x1) = 0

(C) Equation of chord with mid point (x1, y1)

The equation of the chord of the parabola y2 = 4ax, whose mid-point be (x1, y1) is T = S1
Where T  yy1 − 2a(x + x1)
S1  y12 − 4ax1

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11. Normal to the parabola
(A) Normal at the point (x1, y1)
2a
The equation of the tangent at the point (x1, y1) is yy1 = 2a(x + x1) since the slope of tangent = ,
y1
y1
slope of normal is −
2a
Also passes through (x1, y1)
− y1
Hence; its equation is y − y1 = ( x − x1 ) …….. (i)
2a

(B) Normal in terms of m

− y1 y2
In equation (i), put = m so that y1 = −2am and x1 = 1 = am2, then the equation becomes y = mx
2a 4a
− 2am − am3 ……….. (ii) where m is a parameter. Equation (ii) is the normal at the point
(am2, −2am) of the parabola.

Note: (i) If this normal passes through a point (h, k) then k = mh − 2am − am3. For a given parabola and a given
point (h, k) this cubic in m has three roots say m 1, m2, m3 i.e. from (h, k) three normal can be drawn to the
parabola whose slopes are m1, m2, m3. For cubic equation, we have
 2a − h 
m1 + m2 + m3 = 0 m1m2 + m2m3 + m3m1 =   m1m2m3 = −k/a
 a 
If we have an extra condition about the normal drawn from a point (h, k) to a given parabola y2 = 4ax
then eliminating m1, m2, m3 from these four relations between m1, m2, m3, we can get the locus of (h, k).
(ii) Since the sum of the roots is equal to zero, the sum of the ordinates of the feet of the
normal from a given point is zero.

(C) Normal at the point t

Equation of normal at any point (at 2, 2at) on the parabola y2 = 4ax is y = −tx + 2at + at3.
2
Note (i) If the normal at the point t 1 meets the parabola at the point t2. Then t 2 = − t1 −
t1
( )
(ii) Point of intersection of the Normal to the parabola y 2 = 4ax at at12 ,2at1 and at 22 ,2at 2 ( ) is

( )
2a + a t12 + t 22 + t1t 2 ; −at1t2(t1 + t2)
(iii) If two normal at points t1 and t2 intersect again at parabola, then t1t2 = 2

12. Important properties on the parabola

(1) Any ray parallel to the axis of parabola will pass through the focus after reflection.
In  TSP; PTS = TPS,  TS = SP
Tangent

P
o s  x
 x
T S
Normal

(2) The tangent at any point P on a parabola bisects the angle between the focal chord through P
and the perpendicular from P on the directrix.
(3) The portion of a tangent to a parabola cut off between the directrix and the curve subtends a right
angle at the focus
(4) Tangents at extremities of any focal chord intersect at right angles on directrix.
(5) Any tangent to a parabola and the perpendicular on it from the focus meet on the tangent at the
vertex.

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