LESSON

The Parabola
2

What I Need to Know

Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:

 define a parabola;
 determine the standard form of equation of parabola
 graph a parabola in a Cartesian coordinate system;
 describe and discuss the parts of parabola;
 convert the general equation of parabola to standard form and vice
versa.

What’s In

Activity 2.1: Recall

Let us recall previous lessons in quadratic function. Write the correct answer
of the following questions below.

What is the standard form of a quadratic function? ______________________

What is Vertex form of a quadratic function? _________________________
What do you call the graph of quadratic function?________________________
Recalling this concepts are useful in studying the new lesson in this module
as you go along the parts.

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 What’s New
A parabola is one of the conic sections. You have learned from the
previous lesson that it is formed when the plane intersects only one cone to
form an unbounded curve. The same thing with circle, you will learn more
about the opening of the graph, equation in standard form and general form.
Let us discover some important parts of the graph of a parabola.

Figure 2.1
Follow-up Activity! Study figure 2.1 and fill in the blank to complete the statement.
Knowing that the graph of quadratic function is a parabola and you already
had the idea on its part. But, there are new parts to be introduced in teaching
parabola as one of the conics. A parabola is the set of all points in a plane
equidistant from a fixed point and a fixed line. The fixed point is called ________ and
the fixed line is called the __________.The _______ of the parabola is the midpoint
of the perpendicular segment from the focus to the directrix, while the line that
passes through it and the focus is called the _______________. The line segment
through the focus perpendicular to the axis of symmetry is called the ____________
whose length is 4ac.

What is It

Parabola is the set of all points in a plane equidistant from a fixed point and
a fixed line.

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 This part presents how to convert general form of a parabola to its standard
form and vice versa. Table 2.1 presents the general and standard equations of the
parabola with vertex at origin and at (h,k).

Table 2.1
General and Standard Equations of the Parabola
Vertex General Form Standard Form
+ Dx+ F=0

(0,0)
+ Dx+ F=0

+ Dx+ Ey + F=0 ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
(h,k)
+ Dx+ Ey + F=0 ( ) ( )
( ) ( )

Example 2.1Convert the general equations to standard form:

a. b.
Solution: a.

( )
( ) ( )
b.

( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )

( )
Example 2.2 Convert the general equations to standard form:

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 a. ( ) ( ) b. ( ) ( )
Solution: a. ( ) ( )

b. ( ) ( )

Consider the point F(0, 2) and the line ℓ having equation y = 2, as shown in
Figure 1.14. 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 closest to A). How about the distances of
B(−8, 8) from F and from ℓ (from Bℓ)?

AF = 4 and AAℓ = 4
BF=√( ) ( ) and BBℓ = 10
There are other points P such that PF = PPℓ (where Pℓ is the closest point on
line ℓ). The collection of all such points forms a shape called a parabola.

Let F be a given point, and ℓ a given line not containing F. The set
of all points P such that its distances from F and from ℓ are the
same, is called a parabola. The point F is its focus and the line ℓ its
directrix.

Figure 1.14

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 Figure 1.15

Consider a parabola with focus F(0, c) and directrix ℓ having equation y = c.

See Figure 1.26. The focus and directrix are c units above and below, respectively,
the origin. Let P(x, y) be a point on the parabola so PF = PPℓ, where Pℓ is the point
on ℓ closest to P. The 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 = PPℓ
√ ( ) = y − (−c) = y + c

x2 + y2 − 2cy + c2 = 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 = √ ( ) and
PPℓ = (you may draw a version of Figure 1.15 for this case). Computations
similar to the one done above will lead to the equation x2 = −4cy.

We collect here the features of the graph of a parabola with standard equation
x = 4cy or x2 = −4cy, where c > 0.
2
F

Figure 1.16

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 Figure 1.17

(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.
(3) focus: F(0, c) or F(0, −c)
• The focus is c units above or below the vertex.
Any point on the parabola has the same distance from
the focus as it has from the directrix.
(4) axis of symmetry : x = 0 (the y-axis)
This line divides the parabola into two parts which are
mirror images of each other.

Example 2.3. Determine the focus and directrix of the parabola with the given
equation. Sketch 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, is
F(0, 3). The directrix, 3 units below the vertex, is y = −3.
The axis of symmetry is x = 0.

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 Figure 1.18
(2) The vertex is V (0,0) and the parabola opens downward. From 4c=6,
c= . The focus, c= units below the vertex, is F (0,- ). The directrix, units above the
vertex, is y= . The axis of symmetry is x=0.

Figure 1.19

Example 2.4. What is the standard equation of the parabola in Figure 1.14?

Solution: From the figure, we deduce that c=2. The equation is thus

In all four cases below, we assume that c > 0. The vertex is V (h, k), and it lies
between the focus F and the directrix ℓ. The focus F is c units away from the vertex
V, and the directrix is c units away from the vertex. Recall that, for any point on the
parabola, its distance from the focus is the same as its distance from the directrix.

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 (x − h) = 4c(y − k) (y − k) = 4c(x − h)

(x − h) = −4c(y − k) (y − k) = −4c(x − h)

directrix ℓ: horizontal directrix ℓ: vertical

axis of symmetry: x=h, vertical axis of symmetry: y=k, horizontal

Note the following observations:

 The equations are in terms of x h and y k: the vertex coordinates are

subtracted from the corresponding variable. Thus, replacing both h and k with
0 would yield the case where the vertex is the origin. For instance, this
replacement applied to (x h)2 = 4c(y k) (parabola opening upward) would yield
x2 = 4cy, the first standard equation we encountered (parabola opening
upward, vertex at the origin).
 If the x-part is squared, the parabola is “vertical”; if the y-part is squared, the
parabola is “horizontal.” In a horizontal parabola, the focus is on the left or
right of the vertex, and the directrix is vertical.
 If the coefficient of the linear (non-squared) part is positive, the parabola
opens upward or to the right; if negative, downward or to the left.

Example 2.4. Figure 1.20 shows the graph of parabola, with only its focus and vertex
indicated. Find its standard equation. What are its directrix and its axis of symmetry?

Solution. The vertex is V (5, −4) and the focus is F(3, −4). From these, we deduce
the following: h = 5, k = −4, c = 2 (the distance of the focus from the vertex). Since
the parabola opens to the left, we use the template (y − k)2 =−4c(x − h). Our
equation is
(y + 4)2 = −8(x − 5).

Its directrix is c = 2 units to the right of V , which is x = 7. Its

axis is the horizontal line through V : y = −4.

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 Figure 1.20

The standard equation ( ) ( )from the preceding example

can be rewritten as y2 + 8x + 8y 24 = 0, an equation of the parabola in general
form.
If the equation is given in the general form Ax2 + Cx + Dy + E = 0 (A and C
are nonzero) or By2 + Cx+ Dy + E = 0 (B and C are nonzero), we can determine
the standard form by completing the square in both variables.

Example 2.5. Determine the vertex, focus, directrix, and axis of symmetry of the
parabola with the given equation. Sketch the parabola, and include these points and
lines.
(1) y2 − 5x + 12y = −16 (2) 5x2 + 30x + 24y = 51
Solution.
(1) We complete the square on y, and move x to the other side.
y2 + 12y = 5x − 16
y2 + 12y + 36 = 5x − 16 + 36 = 5x + 20
(y + 6)2 = 5(x + 4)
The parabola opens to the right. It has vertex V (−4, −6). From 4c = 5, we get c = 5 =
1.25. The focus is c = 1.25 units to the right of V: F(−2.75, −6). The (vertical) directrix

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is c = 1.25 units to the left of V: x = −5.25. The (horizontal) axis is through V: y = −6.

(2) We complete the square on x, and move y to the other side.

( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )

( ) ( )
In the last line, we divided by 5 for the squared part not to have any
coefficient. The parabola opens downward. It has vertex V(-3,4). From 4c = , we
get c = 6 = 1.2. The focus is c = 1.2 units below V:F(−3, 2.8). The (horizontal)
mdirectrix is c = 1.2 units above V: y = 5.2. The (vertical) axis is through V : x = −3.

Example 2.6 A parabola has focus F(7, 9) and directrix y = 3. Find its standard
equation.
Solution. The directrix is horizontal, and the focus is above it. The parabola then
opens upward and its standard equation has the form (x - h)2 = 4c(y-k). Since the
distance from the focus to the directrix is 2c = 9-3 = 6, then c = 3. Thus, the vertex is
V (7, 6), the point 3 units below F. The standard equation is then (x − 7) = 12(y − 6).

What’s More
Activity 2.1: Let Me try!
Let us find out if you really understood the discussed concept by answering
these follow-up exercises.

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1. Convert the following general form to standard form of a parabola.

a. c.

b. d.

2. Convert the following standard form to general form of a parabola.

a. ( ) ( ) c. ( ) ( )

b. ( ) ( ) ( )
d. ( )

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3. Determine the vertex, focus, directrix, and axis of symmetry of the parabola with
the given equation. Sketch the parabola, and include these points and lines

a. y2 = 20x

b. 3x2 = −12y

c. . x2 − 6x − 2y + 9 = 0

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d. 3y2 + 8x + 24y + 40 = 0

4. A parabola has focus F( 11, 8) and directrix x = -17. Find its standard equation

5. Find the equation of a parabola with vertex at the origin whose properties are
given below.
a. length of latus rectum is 10 and parabola opens downward
b. equation of directrix is y=8
c. focus at (0,4)
d. diretcrix is x=7

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6. Determine the standard equation of the parabola in Figure below given only its
vertex and directrix. Then determine its focus and axis of symmetry

7. Determine the standard equation of the parabola in the figure given only its focus
and vertex. Determine its directrix and axis of symmetry.

8. Find an equation of the parabola with vertex at (-1,4) and y=5 as the line of
directrix. Draw the general appearance of this graph.

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 What I Have Learned

Let me check your knowledge by filling the blanks with a correct symbols/letter
or terms in order to complete the statement/s.
1. A parabola is the set of all points in the plane that are equidistant from a fixed
point called the _________ and fixed line called the __________ of the parabola.
2. The graph of the equation is a parabola with focus F(__,__) and directrix
y=____. So the graph of is a parabola with focus F(__,__) and directrix
y=_____.
3. The graph of the equation is a parabola with focus F(__,__) and directrix
x=_____. So the graph of is a parabola with focus F(__,__) and directrix
x= ___.
4. Label the focus, directrix and vertices on the graphs given for the parabolas
below.
a. of

What I Can Do

Performance Task: Let’s do this!

Materials: Flashlight, ball and ring
1. Get a flashlight and perform the task in the picture. A flashlight is held to

form a lighted area on the ground, as shown in the figure. Is it possible to angle

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the flashlight in such a way that the boundary of the lighted area is a parabola?
Explain your answer.
Answer:

2. In a basketball game, it is crucial to be able to execute a throw which creates a

parabola that can deliver the ball through a hoop with ease. Shooting at a 90 degree
is optimal yet impractical as in order to shoot to this degree, one must be directly
under the rim. This is where a parabola is used to complete the objective of shooting
the ball to acquire points.

Go to the basketball court (if available or accessible, if not innovate) and perform the
following.

a. Standing and facing on one of the posts, move your feet backward 3 times and
then perform shooting the ball. Repeat the process of moving your feet 7 times, 10
times, 12, times 15 times and 20 times and then shoot the ball.

2. While doing the activity of shooting the ball in different distances, what can you
say on the following?

a. Does shooting the ball create parabolic arc? Explain

b. Do you think the parabolic arcs formed are of the same measurement? Explain

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c. Are the parabolic arcs formed in shooting the ball are dependent on the distance
of a person throwing the ball? Or are they related? Explain

d. Do you think that a player or famous player studied the shooting style in order to
get the perfect shoot?

Online connect! For additional knowledge and information about the topics please
visit the links/url indicated below.

1. shorturl.at/eikV1
2. shorturl.at/cfRT5
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJf9shWlMz0
4. shorturl.at/HKSU6

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