Coordinate Geometry

General Equation of Second Degree

Sadia Akter Lima

L ECTURER , MIST

August 12, 2020

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Numerical Examples

Problem: What does the equation 5x 2 − 2xy + 5y 2 − 8x − 8y − 8 = 0 represent?

Reduce the equation to standard form.
Solution: The given equation is

5x 2 − 2xy + 5y 2 − 8x − 8y − 8 = 0

Now compare this equation with ax 2 + 2hxy + by 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 we have

a = 5, h = −1, b = 5, g = −4, f = −4, c = −8

∴ ∆ = abc + 2fgh − af 2 − bg 2 − ch2

⇒ ∆ = 5.5.(−8) + 2.(−4).(−4).(−1) − 5(−4)2 − 5(−4)2 − (−8).(−1)2 = −384

∴ ∆ =6= 0
Now ab − h2 = 5.5 − (−1)2 = 24 > 0 Thus the given conic represents an ellipse.

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Numerical Examples

Let (α, β) be the center of the conic.

hf − bg hg − af
∴α= ,β=
ab − h2 ab − h2
(−1).(−4) − 5(−4) (−1).(−4) − 5(−4)
⇒α= ,β=
5.5 − (−1)2 5.5 − (−1)2
⇒ α = 1, β = 1
So the center is (1,1). Transform the origin to the point (1, 1) when direction of axes are
unchanged, then the given equation becomes,
5x 2 − 2xy + 5y 2 = c1
where
c1 = −(αg + βf + c) = −(1.(−4) + 1.(−4) − 8) = −(−16) = 16

∴ 5x 2 − 2xy + 5y 2 = 16
5 2 xy 5 2
⇒ x − 2. + y =1
16 16 16
⇒ Ax 2 + 2Hxy + By 2 = 1
5 −1 5
Where A = 16
,H = 16
,B = 16
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Numerical Examples

Removing xy term when the axes being rotated

a1 x 2 + b1 y 2 = 16 (1)

a1 + b1 = a + b
a1 b1 = ab − h2
∴ a1 + b1 = 5 + 5 = 10

a1 b1 = ab − h2 = 5.5 − (−1)2 = 24
Now (a1 − b1 )2 = (a1 + b1 )2 − 4a1 b1 = 102 − 4.24 = 100 − 96 = 4. Taking only
positive sign a1 − b1 = 2. Hence solving equations a1 + b1 = 10 and a1 − b1 = 2 we
have a1 = 6, b = 4. From equation (1) we obtain

6x 2 + 4y 2 = 16

x2 y2
⇒ p + 2 =1
( 8/3)2 2

Which is standard form of an ellipse.

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Numerical Examples

Reduce the following conics to the standard form:

(i) 8x 2 + 4xy + 5y 2 − 16x − 14y + 13 = 0
(ii) x 2 − 4xy − 2y 2 + 10x + 4y = 0
(iii) 5x 2 − 24xy − 5y 2 + 4x + 58y − 59 = 0
(iv)9x 2 + 24xy + 16y 2 + 22x + 46y + 9 = 0
Solution: (iv) Given that
9x 2 + 24xy + 16y 2 + 22x + 46y + 9 = 0 (2)
Compare equation (2) with ax 2 + 2hxy + by 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 we get
a = 9, h = 12, b = 16, g = 11, f = 23, c = 9
∴ ∆ = abc + 2fgh − af 2 − bg 2 − ch2 = −625 6= 0
Again, ab − h2 = 0. Therefore, the conic (2) represents a parabola. Now equation (2)
implies that
9x 2 + 24xy + 16y 2 + 22x + 46y + 9 = 0
⇒ (3x)2 + 2.3x.4y + (4y)2 + 22x + 46y + 9 = 0
⇒ (3x + 4y)2 = −22x − 46y − 9
⇒ (3x + 4y + λ)2 = −22x − 46y − 9 + λ2 + 6λx + 8λy

(3x + 4y + λ)2 = (6λ − 22)x + (8λ − 46)y + λ2 − 9 (3)

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Numerical Examples

Let the equations 3x + 4y + λ = 0 and (6k − 22)x + (8k − 46)y + k 2 = 0 will be

perpendicular to each other if a1 a2 + b1 b2 = 0.

∴ 3(6λ − 22) + 4.(8λ − 46) = 0

⇒ 50λ = 250
⇒λ=5
Now equation (3) implies that

(3x + 4y + 5)2 = 8x − 6y + 16
 2
3x + 4y + 5 4x − 3y + 8
⇒ .25 = 2. .5
5 5
⇒ Y 2 .25 = 10.X
Where  2
3x + 4y + 5 4x − 3y + 8
Y = , X =
5 5
1
∴ Y 2 = 4. .X
10
which is the required standard form of a parabola.
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Numerical Examples

H.W:Reduce the equation x 2 + 2xy + y 2 + 2x − 1 = 0 to the standard form and

identify it.

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Numerical Examples

Problem: Reduce the equation x 2 − 5xy + y 2 + 8x − 20y + 15 = 0 to the standard

form and identify it.
Hints: The given conic

x 2 − 5xy + y 2 + 8x − 20y + 15 = 0 (4)

Compare (4) with the equation ax 2 + 2hxy + by 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 we get

5
a = 1, b = 1, h = − , g = 4, f = −10, c = 15
2

21
∴∆= 6= 0
4
and
ab − h2 < 0

Here the given conic represents a hyperbola. Let (α, β) be the center of the conic.

hf − bg hg − af
∴α= ,β=
ab − h2 ab − h2

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Numerical Examples

So the center is (-4,0). Transform the origin to the point (−4, 0) when direction of axes
are unchanged, then the given equation becomes,

x 2 − 5xy + y 2 = c1

where
c1 = −(αg + βf + c) = 1

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Numerical Examples

∴ x 2 − 5xy + y 2 = 1

⇒ Ax 2 + 2Hxy + By 2 = 1
Where A = 1, H = −5
2 ,B = 1
Removing xy term when the axes being rotated

a1 x 2 + b1 y 2 = 1 (5)

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Numerical Examples

a1 + b1 = a + b
a1 b1 = ab − h2
∴ a1 + b1 = 1 + 1 = 2
21
a1 b1 = ab − h2 = −
4
Now (a1 − b1 )2 = (a1 + b1 )2 − 4a1 b1 = 25. Taking only positive sign a1 − b1 = 5.
Hence solving equations a1 + b1 = 2 and a1 − b1 = 5 we have a1 = 27 , b = − 32 . From
equation (5) we obtain
7 2 3
x − y2 = 1
2 2
x2 y2
⇒ p + p =1
( 2/7)2 ( 2/3)2
Which is standard form of a hyperbola.

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