Parabola

PARABOLA
1. Equation of Standard Parabola

2. Parabola at a Glance

3. Four Standard Parabolas 4. Shifted Parabola

Case (a)
When vertex of the parabola is not origin but
shifted to (h, k) and its axis is parallel to x-axis.

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 Parabola
Case (b)
General Parabola : Focus (p, q) and
directrix : x  my  n  0
A Parabola is the locus of a point having equal
distances from Focus and Directrix.
(x  my  n) 2
(x  p) 2  (y  q) 2 
2  m2
Remarks :
(i) Length of the chord :

 a | t1  t 2 | (t1  t 2 )2  4
(ii) If chord is Focal Chord (V. Imp.)
(OR t1, t2, (a, 0) are collinear)
 Chord passing through (a, 0)
1
 t1t 2  1  t 2  
t1
5. Position of a Point Relative To a Parabola
Hence, if one end of the focal chord is 't' the
1
other end is 
t
Coordinates of focal chord can be taken as

a 2a 
(at 2 , 2at)and  2 ,  
t t 
(Note : Only one variable)
(iii) Length of the focal chord
2
 1
 f  a(t1  t 2 )2  a  t  
 t
P  (x1 , y1 ) S  y 2  4ax  0 S1  y12  4ax1
If S1 < 0 Point P lies inside the parabola. (v) If 1 ,  2 are the length segments of a focal chord
If S1= 0 Point P lies on the parabola. made by focus then length of its latus recturn is
If S1 > 0 Point P lies outside the parabola.
41 2
6. Parametric C ordinates
1   2 i.e. = 4a.
1 = at2 + a (use focal distance property)
a
2  a
t2

7. Chord Joining Two Points t1 & t2

Parametric equation of a chord joining two
points 't1' and 't2' of the parabola y2 = 4ax is
2x  y(t1  t 2 )  2at1t 2  0
For memory x — y(A. M.) + a(G. M.)2 = 0

(vi) If the
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', 't2', 't3' and 't4' passes
 Parabola
through a point (c, 0) on the axis, then Remarks :

c
t1t 2  t 3 t 4  
a

Length of Chord of Parabola Intercepted on

Parabola : y2 = 4ax Line Parabola: y2 =4ax & Line: y = mx + c
Line y = mx + c 4
Solving them together (mn +c)2 - 4ax = 0  2
a(1  m 2 )(a  cm)
m
m2x2 + 2mcx + c2 - 4ax = 0

(vii) If the chord subtends 90o angle at the vertex of

parabola then (t 1t2 = - 4) and it passes through 8. Line and Parabola
a fixed point (4a, 0) on the axis. Intersection of Line and Parabola
2 2
m1  m2  m1m2  1
t1 t2

 t 1 t 2  4
D = 4(mc - 2a)2 - 4m2c2 D = 16a(a - mc)

(2x - y(t1 + t2) + 2 a t1 t2 = 0

(viii) If t2 approaches to t1(t2  t1) chords  tangent
at t
ty  x  at 2
 equation of tangent at the point 't' of the
parabola y2 = 4ax.

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 Parabola
9. Tangents to The Parabola Slope Form Parametric Form
Tangent to The Parabola x2 = 4ay Parabola : y2 = 4ax
Point : (at2, 2at)
Equation of tangent at the point (at2, 2at) :
y2 at = 2a(x + at2)

 yt  x  at 2
Note Slope m = 1/t
12. Point of intersection of two tangents at
t1 & t2
(at1t2, a(t1 + t2))

(Tip for Point of contact : Interchange x  y (G.M. of at12 and at 22 ) (A.M. of 2at1 and 2at2)
and m  1/m)
10. Equation of tangents from any point outside 13. Equation of the pair of tangents
the parabola Parabola : y2 = 4ax
a Point : (x1, y1) (Outside)
Equation of Tangent : y = mx + (Point :(h, k))
m
Combined Equation of pair of
a
 k = mh +  m2h - mk + a = 0 tangents from the point (x1, y1)
m
k a
 m1 + m2 = & m1m2 =
h h
These relations can be used to compute the locus
of a point from which pairs of tangents are drawn.
SS1  T 2

Where,

11. Tangents to The Parabola

Cartesian Form

Important Points
(1) Point of intersection of normals at t1 & t2

{a(t12  t 22  t1t 2  2),  at1t 2 (t1  t 2 )}

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 Parabola

A(t1)
x
P(x1 , x 2 )
B(t2 )

(i) t1t2 = 2
(ii) t3 = - (t1 + t2) and
(2) If the normals to the parabola y2 = 4ax at the (iii) The line joining t1 & t2 passes through a fixed
point t1, meets the parabola again at the point t2, point (-2a, 0).
2
then t 2   t1  t
1

16. Director Circle

The locus of point of intersection of pair of
perpendicular tangents is Director Circle.
OR
(3) If the normals to parabola y2 = 4ax at the points
The locus of the points from which two
t1 & t2 intersect again on the parabola at the point
perpendicular tangents can be drawn on the
‘t3‘ then
parabola.
14. Chord of Contact
Director circle of the parabola is
Equation of the chord of contact of pair of
x+a=0
tangents from (x1, y1)
i.e. parabola's own directrix.
T=0
17. Normals To The Parabola
yy1 = 2a (x + x1)
A line perpendicular to the tangent at a given point
P is called Normal at point P
1
Slope of Normal = Slope of tan gent

1

15. Area of The Triangle PAB  dy 
 
(y12  4ax1 )3/2 (S1 )3/ 2  dx 
 Area  
2a 2a

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 Parabola
Cartesian Form (i) m1+ m2 + m3 = 0
Parabola : y2 = 4ax 2a  h
 Equation of Normal at at the point (x1,y1) m1m2 + m2m3 + m3m1 =
a
y1 k
y  y1   (x  x1 )
2a m1m2m3 = -
a
Parametric Form (ii) Foot of the normals of three concurrent normals
Parabola: y2 = 4ax are called conormals points. At the most three
Point : (at2, 2at) normals can be drawn. Atleast one real normal
can be drawn.
y   tx  2at  at 3 at (at2, 2)
Analysis :
With slope m = - t (iii) P  (am12 , 2am1 ) Q  (am 22 , 2am 2 )
Note
Product of ordinates at t1 and t2 : R  (am 32 , 2am 3 )
2at 1 x 2at2 = 4a2.t1t2 = 8a2 (iv)  m1+ m2 + m3 = 0, Algebric sum of the slopes
Product of abscissa : of three con current normals is zero
at12 .at 22  4a 2 -2am1- 2am2- 2am3 = 0
Slope Form Sum of ordinates of the three conormal points
Parabola : y2=4ax Point : (at2, 2at) on the parabola is zero.
Equation of normal at (at2, 2at) (v)  m1+ m2 + m3 = 0
y = -tx + 2at + at3 Slope m = - t Centroid of the triangle PQR
Replace t by (-m)   am12 2a  m1    am12 
 ,    ,0
y  mx  2am  am 3 At point (am2, -2am)  3 3 3 
   
18. Equation of Normal From a Point And Its  Centroid lies on the axis of parabola.
Analysis
Parabola : y2 = 4ax Point: (h, k)
Method :
(i) Take the equation of normal in slope form
y = mx - 2am - am3
(ii) Put the given point (h, k)
(iii) Form cubic in m
am3 + (2a - h)m + k = 0
(iv) Solve for m and find the equation of normals.

19. Equation of chord with a given Mid Point

Parabola : y2 = 4ax Mid Point: (h, k)
Equation of Chord with mid point (h, k)
T  S1  ky  2a(x  h)  k 2  4ah
20. Diameter
The locus of the middle points of a system of
parallel chords of a Parabola is called its Diameter.
2a
Eq. of the diameter is y =
m
Analysis : Line parallel to the axis of the parabola
am3 + (2a - h)m + k = 0
Let m1, m2 & m3 are the slopes of the three
concurrent normal, then

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 Parabola
Important Highlights of Parabola
The tangent at a point P on the parabola is the
 a 2a  internal angle bisector of the angle between the
Q:  2 , 
m m  focal radius SP & the perpendicular from P on
And chord at Q the
becomes tan gent directrix. STP  SPT  TPM  
to parabola 4.

Important Highlights of Parabola

1.

If the tangent & normal at any point 'P' of the

parabola intersect the axis at T & G, then The normal at a point P on the parabola is the
ST = SG = SP where 'S' is the focus. external angle bisector of the angle between the
2. focal radius SP & the perpendicular from P on
the directrix.
5.

Circle circumscribing the triangle TGP formed

by any tangent, normal and x-axis, has its centre
at focus. Reflection Property
3. All rays emanating from S will become parallel
to the axis of the parabola after reflection.

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 Parabola
6. 9.

All rays coming parallel to the axis will pass

through focus after reflection from parabola
7.
The tangents at the extremities of a focal chord

intersect at right angles on the directrix

10.

The portion ofa tangeut to a parabola cut off

between the directrix & the curve subtends a right
angle at the focus.
 KSP  90o
8. SPK  MPK
SP  PM KP  KP
 PMK  PSK  90o
  
1
 m1m 2   1
t 1t 2

Also x coordinate of point P :

x = at1t2 = - a

Chord of contact oftangents drawn from any point

on directrix of parabola will be its focal chord

and tangents will be at right angle.

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 Parabola
11. 12.

Any tangent to a parabola & the perpendicular

on it from the focus meet on the tangent at the
vertex Locus of the feet of the  drawn from
focus upon a variable tangent is the tangent drawn
to the parabola at it vertex.

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