St.

Francis College
Allen Northern Samar

Learning Module in Pre-Calculus

MODULE 2
PARABOLA
WEEK: 2
GRADE LEVEL: GRADE 11
LEARNING COMPETENCY:
 Define a parabola
 Determine the standard form of equation of a parabola

I. CONCEPT
A parabola is one of the conic sections. We have already seen parabolas which open upward or downward, as graphs
of quadratic functions. The set of all points (x, y) in a plane that are the same distance from a fixed line, called the
directrix, and a fixed point (the focus) not on the directrix.
II. Examples and discussion
Key Equations
Parabola , vertex at origin , axis of symmetry
on x - axis Y2 = 4px

Parabola , vertex at origin, axis of symmetry

Parabola, vertex at (h,k), axis of symmetry on x-

Parabola, vertex at (h,k), axis of symmetry on y-

A parabola is the set of all points (x, y) in a plane that are the same distance from a fixed line, called the
directrix, and a fixed point (the focus not on the directrix.
The Standard form of a parabola with vertex (0,0) and the x-axis as its axis of symmetry can be used to graph the
parabola. If p >0, the parabola open right. If the p<0, the parabola is opens left.
When given the focus and directrix of a parabola, we can write its equation in the standard form.
Consider the point F (0, 2) and the line l
having equation y = -2, as shown in figure 1.17. What are the distances of A (4, 2) from F and from l ? (The latter is taken
as the distance of A from Al , the point on l closet to A).about the distances of B (-8, 8) from F and from l ?

AF = 4 and AAl = 4
BF = √ ¿ ¿ =10 and BBe = 10
There are other points P such that PF = PPe (where Pe is the closest point on the line
Consider a parabola with focus F (0,c) and directrix l having equation x = -c . See Figure 1.18. The focus and directrix
are c units above and below , respectively,the origin . Let P(x,y) be a point P has to be on the same side of the directrix as
the focus ( if P was below, it would be closer to l than it is from F ).

PF = P Pl

√ x 2+¿ ¿ = y – (-c) = y + c
 X 2 + y2
– 2cy + c 2 = y2
+ 2cy + c2
X2 =
4cy

The
vertex V is the
point
midway
between the
focus and the
directrix. This equation, x2 = 4cy, is then the standard equation of a parabola opening upward with vertex V(0,0).
Suppose the focus is F(0,-c) and the directrix is y = c. In this case , a point P on the resulting parabola would be
below the directrix ( just like the focus). Instead of opening upward ,it will open downward .Consequently , PF =
√ x 2+¿ ¿ and P Pl = c –y ( you may draw a version of Figure 1.18 for this case ). Computations similar to the one done
above will lead to the equation x2 = -4cy .
The illustration above is the features of the graph of a parabola with standard equation x 2 = 4cy or x2 = -4cy, where
c>0.
1. vertex: origin v(0,0)

 If the parabola opens upward , the vertex is the lowest point. If the parabola opens downward, the vertex is
the highest point.
2. Directrix : the line y = -c or y = c

 The directrix is c units below or above the vertex.

 The focus is c unit above or below the vertex.

 This line divides the parabola into two parts which are mirror images of each other.
Example:
Determine the focus and directrix of the parabola with the given equation . Skecth the graph , and indicate the focus ,
directrix, vertex , and axis of symmetry.
1. x2 = 12y 2. x2 = -6y
Solution
1. The vertex is V(0,0) and the parabola opens upward . From 4c=12, c = 3. The focus, c =3 units above the vertex,
F (0,3). The directrix 3 units below the vertex , y = -3 . The axis of symmetry is x = 0.

2. The vertex
3
is V(0,0) and the parabola opens downward. From 4c = 6, c= .
2
3 3 3 3
The focus, c = units below the vertex, is F (0, - ). The directrix, units above the vertex, is y = . The axis of
2 2 2 2
symmetry is x = 0.

Example 2
1. What is the
standard equation of the parabola in Figure 1.17?
Solution. From the figure, we deduce that c = 2. The equation is thus x 2 = 8y.
2. Give the focus and directrix of the parabola with equation x 2 = 10y. Sketch the graph, and indicate the focus,
directrix, vertex, and axis of symmetry.
5 5
Answer: focus (0, ), directrix y= -
2 2
Find the standard equation of the parabola which satisfies the given conditions.
a. vertex ( 1, -9 ), focus (-3, -9)
b. Vertex (-8, 3), direction x = - 10.5
c. vertex ( -4, 2), focus ( -4, -1 )
d. focus ( 7, 11 ), directrix x=1
e. Focus (7, 11), directrix y = 4

I. RESOURCES

Ph. D., Garces, I. L., Ph.D., , J. B., Ph.D., Eden, R. B., Estrada, G. E., Ph. D., Francisco, F. F., & Vidallo, M. J. (2016). Pre-
Calculus For Senior High School. Quezon City: Commission on Higher Education.