Pre – Calculus

CONIC SECTION

PARABOLA :

2 FORMULAS:

Vertical Axis of Symmetry (Horizontal Parabola) : (y − k)2 = 4P (x − h)

Form:

– Either up or down

Horizontal Axis of Symmetry (Vertical Parabola): (x − h)2 = 4P (y − k)

Form:

– Either left or right

- Includes the following:

a. Latus Rectum – length of each point away from the focus
Latus Rectum Distance Formula: P / 2P
Total Length of Latus Rectum: 2P + 2P = 4P
Position of Latus Rectum:
➔ OPENING: Upward / Downward
➔ DIRECTION: Horizontal

➔ OPENING: Right / Left

➔ DIRECTION: Vertical

Coordinates of Latus Rectum : (x1 , y1) & (x2, y2)

b. Directrix – units or distance of vertex and focus is equal to it. The bottom point / the last
point away from focus.
Example: Distance of vertex from focus = 5 units
Then,
Distance of directrix from vertex = 5 units
c. Axis of Symmetry – where both points of vertex and focus lie. Same coordinate of vertex and
focus. X = Horizontal Axis of Symmetry Y = Vertical Axis of Symmetry
d. Focus - the center
Formula of Focal Length : P / 4P
Vertex : (h,k) – From the Equation or Function). Taken with opposite signs.
Position and Form of Parabola:

• Vertical (UPWARD) if P > 0

(Graph)

Axis of Symmetry – (same coordinate where both the vertex and focus lie) X = 0

Equation of Latus Rectum (same coordinate where both the Latus Rectum lie) – Y = 0

Equation of Directrix – (always behind the vertex) Y = -8

Position of Latus Rectum = Horizontal

 • Vertical (DOWNWARD) if P < 0

(Graph)

Axis of Symmetry (same coordinate where both the vertex and focus lie) - X = 0

Equation of Latus Rectum (same coordinate where both the Latus Rectum lie) – Y = 2

Equation of Directrix – (always behind the vertex) Y = 6

Position of Latus Rectum = Horizontal

 • Horizontal (RIGHT) if P > 0

(Graph)

Axis of Symmetry - Y = 0

Equation of Latus Rectum – X = 0

Equation of Directrix – X = -6

Position of Latus Rectum = Vertical

 • Horizontal (LEFT) if P < 0

(Graph)

Axis of Symmetry - Y = 0

Equation of Latus Rectum – X = 0

Equation of Directrix – X = 6

Position of Latus Rectum = Vertical

EXAMPLES :

Graph the following:

1. Equation: (y + 9)2 = 4 ( x – 3 )

Graph:

Position and Direction of Opening: Horizontal, Right

k=-9,h=3

P = 4 > 0 so RIGHT is the direction of opening.

Vertex: (3,-9) (h,k)

Focus: (4,-9)

How? Focal Length: 4 / 4P = 1 unit away so (4,-9) is the focal coordinate.

Latus Rectum:

- Distance from Focus to Each Latus Rectum : 4 / 2P = 2 units away

Latus Rectum Position: Vertical

Equation of Latus Rectum: X = 4

Coordinates of Latus Rectum : (4, - 7) , ( 4, - 11)

Total Length of Latus Rectum : 2 + 2 = 4 units

Directrix : X = 2 (behind the vertex, same distance between focus and vertex)

Distance from Vertex to Focus : 1 unit

So Distance from Directrix to Vertex : 1 unit

Axis of Symmetry: Y = -9, Vertical Axis of Symmetry

 2. Equation: (y - 1)2 = -8 ( x + 5 )

Graph:

Position: Horizontal

Direction of Opening : Left because – 8 < 0

Vertex: (-5, 1 ) (h,k)

Focal Length : - 8 / 4P = - 2 units (2 units to the left)

Focus: (-7, 1)

Latus Rectum:

- Distance from Focus to Each Latus Rectum : -8 / 2P = 4 units away

Latus Rectum Position: Vertical

Equation of Latus Rectum: X = -7

Coordinates of Latus Rectum : (-7, 5) & ( -7, 3)

Total Length of Latus Rectum : 2 + 2 = 4 units

Directrix : X = -3 (behind the vertex, same distance between focus and vertex)

Distance from Vertex to Focus : 2 units

So Distance from Directrix to Vertex : 2 units

Axis of Symmetry : Y = 1 , Vertical Axis of Symmetry

 3. Equation: (x + 5 )2 = -8 ( y )

Graph:

Position: Vertical

Direction of Opening : Downward because – 8 < 0

Vertex: (-5, 0) (h,k)

Focal Length : - 8 / 4P = - 2 units (2 units down )

Focus: (-5, - 2 )

Latus Rectum:

- Distance from Focus to Each Latus Rectum : -8 / 2P = 4 units away

Latus Rectum Position: Horizontal

Coordinates of Latus Rectum : (-9, -2 ) , (-1, -2)

Equation of Latus Rectum: Y = -2

Total Length of Latus Rectum : 4+ 4 = 8 units

Directrix : Y = 2 (behind the vertex, same distance between focus and vertex)

Distance from Vertex to Focus : 2 units

So Distance from Directrix to Vertex : 2 units

Axis of Symmetry : X = -5, Horizontal Axis of Symmetry

 4. Equation: (x + 3)2 = 8 ( y + 4 )

Graph:

Position: Vertical

Direction of Opening : Upward because 8 < 0

Vertex: (-3, -4 ) (h,k)

Focal Length : -8 / 4P = 2 units (2 units up )

Focus: (-3, -2 )

Latus Rectum:

- Distance from Focus to Each Latus Rectum : -8 / 2P = 4 units away

Latus Rectum Position: Horizontal

Coordinates of Latus Rectum : (-7, -2 ) , (1, -2)

Equation of Latus Rectum: Y = -2

Total Length of Latus Rectum : 4+ 4 = 8 units

Directrix : Y = - 6 (behind the vertex, same distance between focus and vertex)

Distance from Vertex to Focus : 2 units

So Distance from Directrix to Vertex : 2 units

Axis of Symmetry : X = -3, Horizontal Axis of Symmetry

SHORTCUT FORMULAS

- Horizontal Parabola / Vertical Axis of Symmetry

Parabola Formula: (y − k)2 = 4P (x − h)

Coordinates of Focus : (h + P, k ) Note : P is already divided by 4P

Direction of Opening: p > 0 – Opening to Right

p < 0 – Opening to Left

Direction of Latus Rectum: Vertical

Equation of LR: x = h +p

Length of LR: 4P

Coordinates of LR: (h + p, k ± 2P)

Axis of Symmetry: y = k

Directrix : x = h – p

How to Use ?

(y + 9)2 = 4 ( x – 3)

h= 3

k = -9

p = 4 / 4P = 1

Coordinates of Focus : (3 + 1, -9)

: ( 4, - 9)

Direction of Opening : 4P > 0 – RIGHT

Direction of LR: Vertical

Equation of LR : X = 3 + 1

X=4

Coordinates of LR : (h + p, k ± 2P)

( 3 + 1 , - 9 – 2) and ( 3 + 1 , - 9 – 2) Note : 4 / 2P = 2. Use the ± to generate a pair of

coordinates.

(4, 7) and (4, -11)

Axis of Symmetry: y = k

Y = -9

Directrix : x = h – p

X=3–1

X=2
 - Vertical Parabola / Horizontal Axis of Symmetry
Parabola Formula: (x − h)2 = 4P (y − k)

Coordinates of Focus : (h , k + p ) Note : P is already divided by 4P

Direction of Opening: p > 0 – Upward

p < 0 – Downward

Direction of Latus Rectum: Horizontal

Equation of LR: y = k +p

Length of LR: 4P

Coordinates of LR: (h ± 2P, k + p)

Axis of Symmetry: x = h

Directrix : y = k – p

How to Use?

(x + 3)2 = 8 (y + 4)

h : -3

k : -4

p: 8 / 4P = 2

Coordinates of Focus : (-3, -4 + 2)

: ( -3, -2)

Direction of Opening : 8 > 0 – UPWARD

Direction of LR: Vertical

Equation of LR : Y = k +p

Y=-4+2

Y = -2

Coordinates of LR : (h ± 2P, k + p)

(-3 + 4, - 4 + 2), ( -3 – 4, -4 + 2)

Note : 8 / 2P = 4. Use the ± to generate a pair of coordinates.

(1, -2) and ( -7 , -2)

Axis of Symmetry: x = h

X = -3

Directrix : x = k – p

X = -4 - 2

X = -2
HOW TO DERIVE A FORMULA?

h, k

1.) Vertex : (0,0)

Focus : (0,8)

If you would look at it, the focus and the distance is 8 units away
from each other in the y-axis. That is the focal length.

So:

Form: Vertical Parabola, Horizontal Axis of Symmetry

Formula: (x − h)2 = 4P (y − k)
Plugging in the values: (x – 0)2 = 4P (y – 0)

How to find 4P?

Take note that Focal Length is P.

P=8

4P = 4(8)

4P = 32

So: (x – 0)2 = 32 (y – 0)

Final Answer: (x )2 = 32 (y)

Other Method:

Vertex : (0,0)
Focus : (0,8) - (h , k + p ) so, ( 8 – 0) = 8
Focal Length : P/4 = 8
P = 8(4)
P = 32
2.) Vertex: (0,0) and Directrix: x = 12

Since Directrix is X so the Parabola is Horizontal.

Formula: (y − k)2 = 4P (x − h)
h=0,k=0

Plugging in the values : ( y – 0 )2 = ___ ( x – 0)

Take note: Directrix : x = h – p

12 = 0 – p
12 + 0 = -p
12 = -p
-12 = p

Find 4P

4P = -12 (4)

4P = -48

Final Answer : ( y )2 = -48 ( x )

 h, k

3.) Vertex : (2,2) and Focus : (6,2)

The x-coordinate changed so, HORIZONTAL Parabola.

Formula : (y − k)2 = 4P (x − h)
h:2

k:2

Distance between Focus and Vertex is ( 6 – 2) = 4 units

Focal Length : P = 4 units

Find 4P.

4P = 4 (4)

4P = 16

Final Answer: (y – 2)2 = 16 ( x – 2 )

4.) Vertex : (-3,4) and Directrix : y = 6

Directrix is Y so Vertical Parabola

Formula: (x − h)2 = 4P (y − k)
h : -3

k:4

( x – (-3))2 = 4P (y – 4 )

Directrix : y = k – p

6=4–p

6 – 4 = -p

2 = -p

-2 = p

Find 4P

4P = 4 (-2)

4P = -8

Final Answer: ( x + 3 )2 = -8 (y – 4 )