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Lecture 1

This document covers the basics of analytic geometry, specifically focusing on circles and parabolas. It defines the circle's equation and provides examples, as well as introduces the parabola, its definition, and derivation of its equation. The document includes standard forms for both shapes and examples for further understanding.

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gilbertpatience57
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15 views3 pages

Lecture 1

This document covers the basics of analytic geometry, specifically focusing on circles and parabolas. It defines the circle's equation and provides examples, as well as introduces the parabola, its definition, and derivation of its equation. The document includes standard forms for both shapes and examples for further understanding.

Uploaded by

gilbertpatience57
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1

Analytic geometry (Lecture 1)

In this Lecture, we will review some of the work covered in MAT1100


about the circle. We will define a parabola, with vertex at the origin,
derive its equation and look at some examples.

1.1 The circle

Let C = (h, k) be a fixed point. We recall that the locus of points


equidistant from C is called the circle. We call C = (h, k) the center of
the circle, and the distance from C to any point on the circumference
is called the radius of the circle. This means that if P = (x, y) is
any point on the circumference of the circle, with center C = (h, k),
p
then r = (x − h)2 + (y − k)2, so that r2 = (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 or
x2 − 2hx + y 2 − 2ky + h2 + k 2 − r2 = 0 is the equation of the circle. The
equation x2 − 2hx + y 2 − 2ky + h2 + k 2 − r2 = 0 is generally written as
x2 + y 2 + Cx + Dy + E = 0, and is called the GENERAL EQUATION of
the circle, while r2 = (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 is known as the STANDARD
EQUATION of the circle.

Example 1.1.1. 1. Find the equation of a circle with center at (2, −3),
and passes through (5, −1).

2. Find the center of the circle whose equation is 3x2 + 3y 2 + 6x −


4y − 5 = 0.
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1.2 Parabolas

Definition 1.2.1. A parabola is the set of all points in a plane equidis-


tant from a fixed line (D) called the directrix, and a fixed point (F )
called the focus in the plane.

Let’s derive the algebraic equation for a parabola. Without loss of


generality, we can assume the focus is F (0, p) on the positive y-axis
and the directrix is the line y = −p (without loss of generality just
means that any other situation could be transformed into this case).
From the definition of parabola, we must have for an arbitrary point
P (x, y) on the parabola:

k P F k =k P D k
distance to focus = distance to directrix
p p
x + (y − p) = (y + p)2
2 2

x2 + (y − p)2 = (y + p)2
x2 = 4yp.

This reveals the parabola’s symmetry about the y-axis. The point
where the parabola crosses its axis is the vertex. For x2 = 4yp, the
vertex lies at the origin. The positive number p is the parabola’s focal
length.
The standard form for the equation of a parabola is x2 = 4yp. If p > 0,
the parabola opens upwards, and downward if p < 0. By interchanging
x and y in x2 = 4yp, we obtain y 2 = 4xp, with the parabola opening
to the right if p > 0 or opening to the left if p < 0.

8
Example 1.2.2. 1. Find the focus and directrix for the parabola

x2 = −12y.

2. Find the focus and directrix for the parabola

y 2 = 10x.

3. Write an equation for a parabola that opens to the left, with vertex
(0, 2) and passes through (−6, −4). Hence sketch the graph.

Note: Check the course outline for references.

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