Equations of Conics

Standard Equations of Conics

Circle: ( x−h )2+ ( y −k )2=r 2

- wherein:
o (h,k) is the center
o The square root of r is the radius

Parabola: ( x−h )2=4 c ( y−k )

- wherein:
o (h,k) is the vertex
o c is the distance from the vertex to the focus
o distance from vertex to focus is equal to the distance from vertex to directrix
o directrix is a line above the vertex, not a point
o if x is squared then, the graph opens either up or down
o if y is squared then, the graph is either facing left or right.
o if 4c is positive, then, the graph is either opening up or facing right
o if 4c is negative then, the graph is either opening down or facing left

x2 y 2 ( x−h )2 ( y−k )2
Ellipse: 2 + 2 =1 or 2
+ 2
=1
a b a b
- wherein:
o if the denominator of y is greater then, the ellipse is vertical
o if the denominator of x is greater then, the ellipse is horizontal.
o a>b>0
o major axis is the line that contains he foci and goes through the center whose
measurement is 2a
o minor axis is the shorter line perpendicular to the major axis whose measurement is 2b
o vertices are the 2 points intersecting the major axis and whose distance is 2a and
midpoint is the center
o covertices are the 2 points intersecting the minor axis and whose distance measurement
is 2b
o foci are 2 fixed points with a distance of c from the center
 b 2=a2−c 2
o if ellipse is horizontal:
 vertices: (h+a, k) , (h-a, k)
 covertices: (h, k+b) , (h, k-b)
 foci: (h+c, k) , (h-c, k)
o if ellipse is vertical:
  vertices: (h, k+a) , (h, k-a)
 covertices: (h+b, k) , (h-b, k)
 foci: (h, k+c) , (h, k-c)

x
2
y
2
( x−h )2 ( y−k )2
Hyperbola: 2
− 2
=1or 2
− 2
=1
a b a b
- wherein:
o (h,k) is the center
o a>b<0 and
o if the numerator of a is x then the transverse axis is horizontal
o if the numerator of a is y then the transverse axis is vertical
o the vertices are a units from the center within the transverse axis
o the foci are c units from the center within the transverse axis
b −b
o its asymptotes are y= ∧ y=
x x
Identifying Conics by its General Equation

CIRCLE

- Both x2 and y2 appear and the coefficients are the same.

2 2
- A x + A y +Cx+ Dy+ E=0
- Example: 18 x 2+18 y 2−24 x+ 48 y−5=0

PARABOLA

- Only either x2 or y2 appears

2
- A x +Cx + Dy+ E=0
o if the x is squared, the graph opens either upward or downward.
2
- B y +Cx + Dy+ E=0
o if y is squared, the graph opens either to the right or to the left.
- Example:
o 3 x 2−12 x + y +26=0 (graph opens downward)
o −2 y 2+ 3 x +12 y−15=0 (graph opens to the right)

ELLIPSE

- Both x2 and y2 appear and their coefficients A and B have the same sign but are unequal.
2 2
- A x + B y +Cx+ Dy+ E=0
- Example:
o 2 x2 +5 y 2 +8 x−10 y−7=0
o 4 x2 + y 2−16 x −6 y+ 21=0

HYPERBOLA

- both x2 and y2 appear and their coefficients A and B have different signs.
 2 2
- A x −B y +Cx+ Dy+ E=0
- Example:
o 5 x 2−3 y 2−20 x−18 y−22=0
o −4 x 2+ y 2 +24 x + 4 y−36=0

Practice Exercises!

Is the equation a circle, parabola, ellipse or hyperbola?

9 x 2+ 16 y 2−126+64 y =71  answer: Ellipse

- Explanation: both x2 and y2 are present with same signs and the coefficients are unequal

4 x2 −4 y 2 −9=0  answer: Circle

- Explanation: both x2 and y2 are present and their coefficients are equal

y 2−8 y −9 x+52=0  answer: Parabola

- Explanation: only y2 is present

3 x 2−2 y 2−42 x−16 y=−67  answer: Hyperbola

- Explanation: both x2 and y2 are present with unequal coefficients and different signs.

Changing from General Form to Standard Form

Example no. 1

x 2+ y 2−6 x−12 y−55=0  complete the square

( x 2−6 x +9 ) + ( y 2−12 y+36 )=55+ 9+3 6  factor out

( x−3 )2 + ( y−6 )2=100  standard equation of a circle
center : ( 3 ,6 )
r =10

Example no. 2:
2
y −5 x +12 y =16
2
y +12 y=5 x−16  complete the square
2
y +12 y+36=5 x−16+36  factor out

( y +6 )2 =5 ( x + 4 )  standard equation of a parabola

vertex: (-4, -6)

focus: (-2.75, -6)

directrix: x = 5.25

axis of symmetry: y = 6

Example no. 3
2 2
16 x + 4 y +96 x−8 y + 84=0  transfer the constant after the = sign and factor out

16 ( x + 6 x )+ 4 ( y −2 y ) =−84  complete the square

2 2

16 ( x + 6 x+ 9 ) +4 ( y −2 y +1 )−84 +144+ 4  factor out

2 2

16 ( x+ 3 )2+ 4 ( y −1 )2=64  divide both sides by 64 so that the equation will be equal to 1

16 ( x +3 )2 4 ( y−1 )2 64
+ =  simplify
64 64 64

( x+3 )2 ( y−1 )2
+ =1  standard equation of an ellipse
4 16
center: (-3, 1)

major axis: x=3

minor axis: y=1

vertices: (-3, -3) , (-3, 5)

foci: (−3,1−2 √ 3 ) , (−3,1+2 √3 )

covertices: (-5, 1) , (-1, 5)

Example no. 4
2 2
4 x +32 x−9 y +54 y−53=0  factor out and transfer the constant to the other side

4 ( x 2+ 8 x ) −9 ( y 2−6 y ) =53  complete the square

4 ( x + 8 x +16 ) −9 ( y −6 y+ 9 )=53+ 64−81  factor out

2 2

2 2
4 ( x+ 4 ) −9 ( y−3 ) =36  divide by 36 (constant) to make the equation equal to 1
 2 2
4 ( x +4 ) 9 ( y −3 ) 36
− =  simplify
36 36 36

( x+ 4 )2 ( y−3 )2
− =1  standard equation of a hyperbola
9 4
Transverse axis: horizontal

Center: (-4,3)

Foci: (−4+ √13 , 3 ) , ( −4−√ 13 ,3 )

Vertices: (5,3) , (-13, 3)

Questions:

What is the standard form of x 2+ y 2+16 y +55=0 ?

- Answer: x 2+ ( y+ 8 )2=9

What is the center and radius of ( x−5 )2 + ( y +3 )2=49 ?

- Answer: Center: (5,-3) ; r=7

What is the vertex of x 2+ 6 x+ 8 y =7

- Answer: V (-3, 20)

What is the standard equation of 2 y 2+ 4 y + x−8=0

2 −1
- Answer: ( y +1 ) = ( x−10 )
2
What is the midpoint of both major and minor axis?

- Answer: center

x2 y2
What are the foci of + =1
169 144
- Answer: ( ± 5,0 )

What is the standard equation of 36 x 2+ 20 y 2 +144 x−120 y −396=0

( x+2 )2 ( y −3 )2
- Answer: + =1
20 36

x2 2
What are the vertices of −( y−2 ) =1
144
- Answer: V (-12,2) and (12,2)
What is the standard equation of x 2− y 2−10 x−12 y +25=0?

( y+ 6 )2 ( x−5 )2
- Answer: − =1
36 36