The parabola

A parabola is the collection of all points in the plane such that the distance from each point to a fixed
point, the focus, equals its distance to a fixed line, the directrix.

Derive the standard form of the equation of a parabola:

The standard form of the equation of a parabola:

𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥 𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦

If p > 0, the graph opens to the right. If p > 0, the graph opens upward.

If p < 0, the graph opens to the left. If p < 0, the graph opens downward.

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#1) Find the focus and directrix of the parabola with the given equation. Then graph the parabola.
 y
𝑦 2 = 40𝑥 

a) What is the focus? Write as an ordered pair. 







 x
− − − − − − −      
b) What is the directrix? Write as an equation. −
−
−
−
−
−
c) Plot the vertex and a 2nd point and sketch the graph. −
−
−
−
−
The standard form of the equation of a parabola:

𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥 𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦

If p > 0, the graph opens to the right. If p > 0, the graph opens upward.

If p < 0, the graph opens to the left. If p < 0, the graph opens downward.

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#2) Find the vertex, focus, and directrix of the parabola with the given equation. Then graph the parabola.

𝑥 2 = −12𝑦  y

a) What is the vertex? Write an ordered pair. 




b) What is the focus? Write as an ordered pair. 

 x
−− − − − − − − − −
−          
−
c) What is the directrix? Write as an equation. −
−
−
−
−
−
d) Plot the vertex and a 2nd point and sketch the graph. −
−
The standard form of the equation of a parabola:

𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥 𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦

If p > 0, the graph opens to the right. If p > 0, the graph opens upward.

If p < 0, the graph opens to the left. If p < 0, the graph opens downward.

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#3) Find the focus and directrix of the parabola with the given equation. Then graph the parabola.

𝑦 2 = −20𝑥  y


a) What is the vertex? Write as an ordered pair. 



b) What is the focus? Write as an ordered pair. 

 x
−− − − − − − − − −
−          
−
c) What is the directrix? Write as an equation. −
−
−
−
−
−
d) Plot the vertex and a 2nd point and sketch the graph. −
−
Recall from quadratic functions (earlier in the course) that the quadratic function (parabola)
𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝒉)2 + 𝒌 has a vertex at (𝒉, 𝒌).

#4) Describe how the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 can be transformed to the graph of the given equation.
𝑦 = (𝑥 + 𝟓)2 + 𝟒
A translation of the graph to the __________ by _____ units and _____ by ______ units.

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Let’s consider the following relation:
𝑥 = 𝑎(𝑦 − 𝒉)2 + 𝒌 What is another way to write this equation?
Where is the vertex of this parabola? ( , )
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#5) Use the vertex and the direction in which the parabola opens to determine the following:
𝑥 = −2(𝑦 − 𝟖)2 + 𝟑

a) What is another way to write this equation?  y




b) What is the vertex? 




c) Which way does the relation open?  x
−− − − − − − − − −
−          
d) The domain of the relation is? −
−
−
−
e) The range of the relation is? −
−
−
−
−

f) Is the relation a function?

(𝑥 − 𝒉)2 = 4𝑝(𝑦 − 𝒌) (𝑦 − 𝒉)2 = 4𝑝(𝑥 − 𝒌)
Vertex (h, k) Vertex (k, h)
Opens upward if p > 0 Opens to the right if p > 0
Opens downward if p < 0 Opens to the left if p < 0
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#6) Match the equation with its corresponding parabola.
𝑦 2 = −4𝑥 (𝑦 − 4)2 = 4(𝑥 − 5) 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥 (𝑦 − 4)2 = −4(𝑥 − 5)
_____ _____ _____ _____
𝑥 2 = −4𝑦 (𝑥 + 5)2 = 4(𝑦 + 4) 𝑥 2 = 4𝑦 (𝑥 + 5)2 = −4(𝑦 + 4)
_____ _____ _____ _____
A B C D

E F G H
(𝑦 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑝(𝑥 − 𝑘)
Vertex (k, h)
Focus (k + p, h) for p > 0
Directrix x = k – p
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#7) Find the vertex, focus, and directrix of the following parabola. Graph the equation.

(𝑦 − 4)2 = 8(𝑥 − 3)
a) What is the vertex? Write as an ordered pair.  y



b) What is the focus? Write as an ordered pair. 




 x
−− − − − − − − − −
−          
−
c) What is the directrix? Write as an equation. −
−
−
−
−
−
−
d) Plot the vertex and a 2nd point and sketch the graph. −
(𝑦 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑝(𝑥 − 𝑘)
Vertex (k, h)
Focus (k + p, h) for p > 0
Directrix x = k – p
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#8) Find the vertex, focus, and directrix of the following parabola. Graph the equation.

(𝑦 + 2)2 = 4(𝑥 + 2)
a) What is the vertex? Write as an ordered pair.  y



b) What is the focus? Write as an ordered pair. 




 x
−− − − − − − − − −
−          
−
c) What is the directrix? Write as an equation. −
−
−
−
−
−
−
d) Plot the vertex and a 2nd point and sketch the graph. −
(𝑦 − 𝒉)2 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝒌) Opens to the right if a > 0
Vertex (k, h) Opens to the left if a < 0
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To find a, plug the vertex and the other point into the corresponding equation above and solve for a.

#9) Write an equation for the parabola shown.

#10) Write an equation for the parabola shown.

#11) Write an equation for the parabola shown.

#12) Write an equation for the parabola shown.

(𝑥 − 𝒉)2 = 𝑎(𝑦 − 𝒌) Opens upward if a > 0
Vertex (h, k) Opens downward if a < 0
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To find a, plug the vertex and the other point into the corresponding equation above and solve for a.

#13) Write an equation for the parabola shown to the right.

#14)

The cables of a suspension bridge are in the shape of a parabola, as shown in the figure. The
towers supporting the cable are 800 feet apart and 80 feet high. If the cables touch the road
surface midway between the towers, what is the height of the cable at a point 200 feet from
the center of the bridge?

The cable is ________ ft from the road surface at a point 200 feet from the center of the bridge.
𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦

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#15) A satellite dish is shaped like a paraboloid of revolution. The signals that emanate from a satellite
strike the surface of the dish and are reflected to a single point, where the receiver is located. If the dish
is 10 ft across at its opening and 2 ft deep at its center, at what position should the receiver be placed?

Note: Recall that a parabola is the collection of all points in the plane such that the distance from each
point to a fixed point, the focus, equals its distance to a fixed line, the directrix.

y





x
− − − − −     
−
−
−
−
−

The receiver should be placed _____________ feet from the base of the dish, along its axis of symmetry.
#16) The following equations occur periodically in the Calculus Sequence (Calculus I, II, III).

Make a rough sketch of each equation.

(a) 𝑥 = 𝑦2 y
(b) 𝑥 = 𝑦2 − 3 y

x x

= 8 − 𝑦2 𝑥 = 2𝑦2
y
(c) 𝑥 y
(d)

x x

(e) 𝑥 = 𝑦2 + 4 y
(f) 4𝑥 + 𝑦 2 = 12 y

x
x
Sequences

A sequence is a function whose domain is the set of positive integers.

{𝑎𝑛 } = 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , 𝑎4 ⋯ 𝑎𝑛 is an infinite sequence.
The range consists of the terms.
Example of a sequence:
3𝑛 3𝑛
𝑎𝑛 = or { }
𝑛+1 𝑛+1

a-subn


n
         
#1) Find the first four terms of the sequence 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛2 + 𝑛.
𝑎1 = 𝑎2 = 𝑎3 = 𝑎4 =

2𝑛
#2) Find the first four terms of the sequence { }.
3𝑛 +1

𝑎1 = 𝑎2 = 𝑎3 = 𝑎4 =

(−1)𝑛+1
#3) Find the first four terms of the sequence 𝑎𝑛 = .
4 𝑛 +1
𝑎1 = 𝑎2 = 𝑎3 = 𝑎4 =

𝑛 2
#4) Find the first four terms of the sequence {(−1) 𝑛 } .
𝑎1 = 𝑎2 = 𝑎3 = 𝑎4 =
The sequence 𝑎1 = 7, 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑎𝑛−1 is an example of a recursive sequence.

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#5) Find the first four terms of the recursive sequence. The sequence is defined using a recursion
formula.

𝑎1 = 13, 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛−1 + 3 for 𝑛 ≥ 2

𝑎1 = 𝑎2 = 𝑎3 = 𝑎4 =

Express this sequence in your own words.

#6) Find the next two terms of the most famous recursive sequence.

1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55, ________, ____________

Factorials:

If n ≥ 0 is an integer, then 𝑛! = 𝑛(𝑛 − 1) ⋯ 3 ∙ 2 ∙ 1 when n ≥ 2.

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0! = 1 by definition 50! =
1! = 1 by definition 69! =
2! = 2 ∗ 1 = 70! =
3! = 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 =
4! = 4 ∗ 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 =
5! = 5 ∗ 4 ∗ 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 =
6! = 6 ∗ 5 ∗ 4 ∗ 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 =
7! = 7 ∗ 6 ∗ 5 ∗ 4 ∗ 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 =
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16!
#7) Evaluate the factorial expression:
2! 14!

106!
#8) Evaluate the factorial expression:
104!
Factorials:
0! = 1 by definition
1! = 1 by definition
2! = 2 ∗ 1
3! = 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1
4! = 4 ∗ 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1
5! = 5 ∗ 4 ∗ 3 ∗ 2 ∗ 1
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(𝑛+1)!
#9) Evaluate the factorial expression:
𝑛!

(8𝑛+1)!
#10) Evaluate the factorial expression:
(8𝑛)!

(7𝑛+2)!
#11) Evaluate the factorial expression:
(7𝑛)!