CONIC SECTIONS

1. PARABOLA
Definition: A parabola is the collection of all points in the plane that are the same distance from a fixed point,
called the focus (F), as they are from a fixed line, called the directrix (D).

2 2
(x - h) = 4p(y - k) (y - k) = 4p(x - h)
p>0 p>0
Standard Form
Parabola opens UP Parabola opens RIGHT
p<0 p<0
Parabola opens DOWN Parabola opens LEFT
Vertex (V) (h, k) (h, k)
Focus (F) (h, k+p) (h+p, k)
x=h y=k
Axis of Symmetry
Vertical Line Horizontal Line
y=k–p x=h–p
Directrix (D)
Horizontal Line Vertical Line
Notes:
(1) y = a(x - h)2+k is not the standard form for the purpose of this worksheet.
Instead, the perfect square must be isolated on the left side of the equation.
(2) The focus (F) is always inside of a parabola; the directrix (D) is always outside of a parabola.
(3) Length of VF = Length of VD = |p| units.
(4) The Latus Rectum is the line segment through the focus ending at 2 points on the parabola.
(5) The length of the Latus Rectum = 4|p| units. It is parallel to the directrix.
 Axis of Symmetry

Latus Rectum

|p|
Directrix
|p| V (h,k)

Example (1). x2 = 4y Example (3). y2 = 2x

Solution: Solution:
Parabola opens up Parabola opens right
4p = 4; p = 1 4p = 2; p = 1/2
Vertex (0,0) Vertex (0,0)
Focus (0,1) Focus (1/2,0)
Axis of Symmetry: x = 0 Axis of Symmetry: y = 0
Directrix: y = -1; Directrix: x = -1/2

Example (2). (x-5)2 = -20(y+3) Example (4). (y+8)2 = -5(x-3)

Solution: Solution:
Parabola opens down Parabola opens left;
4p = 20; p = -5 4p = -5; p = -5/4
Vertex (5,-3) Vertex (3,-8)
Focus (5,-8) Focus (7/4,-8)
Axis of Symmetry: x = 5 Axis of Symmetry: y = -8
Directrix: y = 2 Directrix: x = 17/4
 #1

#3

#4

#2
2. ELLIPSE
Definition: An ellipse is the collection of all points in the plane such that the sum of the distances from
two fixed points, called the foci (F1 & F2), is a constant.

(x h)2 ( y k ) 2 ( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2
Standard Form 1 (a > b) 1 (a > b)
a2 b2 b2 a2
Horizontal Ellipse Vertical Ellipse
Major Axis Horizontal Vertical
Center (C) (h, k)
Vertices (V1,V2) (h+a, k) and (h–a, k) (h, k+a) and (h, k–a)

Endpoints (E1,E2) (h, k+b) and (h, k-b) (h+b, k) and (h-b, k)

Foci (F1, F2) (h+c, k) and (h–c, k) (h, k+c) and (h, k–c)

Focal Length (c) c a 2 b2 c a 2 b2

Length of Major Axis 2a (Distance from V1 to V2)
Length of MinorAxis 2b (Distance from E1 to E2)
Ecentricity (e) e = c/a ( < 1)
Notes:
(1) Five points, (C, V1, V2, F1 and F2) are on the Major Axis
(2) E1 and E2 are on the Minor Axis
(3) Length of CV1 = Length of CV2 = a
(4) Length of CE1 = Length of CE2 = b
(5) Length of CF1 = Length of CF2 = c

E1

Center (h,k)
b

V2 F2 c c F1 V1

a a

E2
 x2 y2 x2 y2
Example (1). 1 Example (3). 1
25 9 9 25
Solution: Solution:
Ellipse is horizontal Ellipse is vertical
a2 = 25; a=5 a2 = 25; a=5
b2 = 9; b=3 b2 = 9; b=3
c2 = 16 ; c=4 c2 = 16 ; c=4
Length of major axis = 10 Length of major axis = 10
Length of minor axis = 6 Length of minor axis = 6
Center (0,0) Center (0,0)
V1 & V2 (5,0), (-5,0) V1 & V2 (0,5), (0,-5)
E1 & E2 (0,3), (0,-3) E1 & E2 (3,0), (-3,0)
F1 & F2 (4,0), (-4,0) F1 & F2 (0,4), (0,-4)

( x 7) 2 ( y 6) 2 ( x 6) 2 ( y 7) 2
Example (2). 1 Example (4). 1
25 9 9 25
Solution: Solution:
Ellipse is horizontal Ellipse is vertical
a2 = 25; a=5 a2 = 25; a=5
2 2
b = 9; b=3 b = 9; b=3
c2 = 16 ; c=4 c2 = 16 ; c=4
Length of major axis = 10 Length of major axis = 10
Length of minor axis = 6 Length of minor axis = 6
Center (7,6) Center (6,7)
V1 & V2 (12,6), (2,6) V1 & V2 (6,12), (6,2)
E1 & E2 (7,9), (7,3) E1 & E2 (9,7), (3,7)
F1 & F2 (11,6), (3,6) F1 & F2 (6,11), (6,3)

CIRCLE:
A special case of the ellipse where a = b = r (radius).

(0,b)

Center (h,k)

(a,0)
3. HYPERBOLA:
Definition: A hyperbola is the collection of all points in the plane such that the difference of the
distances from two fixed points, called the foci, is a constant.

( x h)2 ( y k)
2
( y k )2( x h)
2
Standard form 1 1
a2 b2 a2 b2
Opens LEFT & RIGHT Opens UP & DOWN
Transverse axis Horizontal Vertical

Center (C) (h, k)

Vertices (V1,V2) (h+a, k) and (h–a, k) (h, k+a) and (h, k–a)

Foci (F1, F2) (h+c, k) and (h–c, k) (h, k+c) and (h, k–c)

Focal Length (c) c a2 b2 c a2 b

2

c
Eccentricity (e) e= ( > 1)
a
b a
Asymptotes (y-k) = + (x-h) (y-k) = + (x-h)
a b
Notes: (1) Five points, (C, V1, V2, F1 and F2) are on the transverse axis
(2) a2 always comes before b2 in the equation of hyperbola (unlike the equation of ellipse)
(3) Length of CV1 = Length of CV2 = a
(4) Length of CE1 = Length of CE2 = b
(5) Length of CF1 = Length of CF2 = c
(6) Asymptotes of a hyperbola are diagonals of the fundamental rectangle with dimensions of 2a by 2b

Center (h,k)

E1

F2 F1
c

V2 b V1

a
E2
 x2 y2 y2 x2
Example (1). 1 Example (3). 1
16 9 4 9
Solution: Solution:
Hyperbola is horizontal Hyperbola is vertical
a2 = 16; a=4 a2 = 4; a=2
2 2
b = 9; b=3 b = 9; b=3
c2 = 25 ; c=5 c2 = 13 ; c = 13
Center (0,0) Center (0,0)
V1 & V2 (4,0), (-4,0) V1 & V2 (0,2), (0,-2)
E1 & E2 (0,3), (0,-3) E1 & E2 (3,0), (-3,0)
F1 & F2 (5,0), (-5,0) F1 & F2 (0, 13 ), (0,- 13 )
Equations of asymptotes: Equations of asymptotes:
y = 3/4x and y = -3/4x y = 2/3x and y = -2/3x

x2 ( y 15)
2
y2 ( x 8)
2
Example (2). 1 Example (4). 1
16 9 4 9
Solution: Solution:
Hyperbola is horizontal Hyperbola is vertical
a2 = 16; a=4 a2 = 4; a=2
2
b = 9; b=3 b2 = 9; b=3
c2 = 25 ; c=5 2
c = 13 ; c = 13
Center (0,15)
Center (-8,0)
V1 & V2 (4,15), (-4,15)
V1 & V2 (-8,2), (-8,-2)
E1 & E2 (0, 20), (0, 10)
E1 & E2 (-5,0), (-11,0)
F1 & F2 (5,15), (-5,15)
F1 & F2 (-8, 13 ), (-8,- 13 )
Equations of asymptotes:
y = 3/4x + 15 and y = -3/4x + 15 Equations of asymptotes:
y = 2/3x +16/3 and y = -2/3x + 16/3

#2 #2
#3

#4

#1 #1

#4
#3