Section 9.

3 Hyperbolas
Notes.
Definition of a Hyperbola - The set of all points

x, y ( ) in a plane, the difference of whose
distances from two distinct fixed points (foci) is a positive constant.

Focus Focus
Center

d
2

h, k ( )



a

Vertex Vertex
Focus Focus
d
1

d
2

x, y ( )



c

Vertex
Vertex
The graph of a hyperbola has two disconnected parts called the branches. The line through
the two foci intersect the hyperbola at points called vertices. The line segment connecting
the vertices is called the transverse axis and the midpoint of the transverse axis is the center
of the hyperbola.

a = the distance from the center to a vertex.

a
2
is always listed first in the standard form.

b
2
= the number that is listed second in the standard form. It is used to help graph the
asymptotes of the hyperbola.

c = the distance from the center to a focus.

d
1
d
2
= a constant.

h, k ( ) = the center.
From the diagram you can see that

c is the largest number, therefore

a
2
+ b
2
= c
2
.
Standard Form of the Equation of a Hyperbola -

x h ( )
2
a
2

y k ( )
2
b
2
=1 OR

y k ( )
2
a
2

x h ( )
2
b
2
=1
For

x h ( )
2
a
2

y k ( )
2
b
2
=1 the hyperbola will open right and left.
For

y k ( )
2
a
2

x h ( )
2
b
2
=1 the hyperbola will open up and down.
Asymptotes of a Hyperbola - asymptotes always go through the center

h, k ( ) .
slope

=
rise
run
=
y
x
- - for the hyperbola

m=
b
a
or m=
a
b
Whatever is underneath the

y part goes on top.
Example Problems.
#14 page 687 Find the center, vertices, foci, and (slope of the) asymptotes of the
hyperbola and sketch its graph using the asymptotes as an aid.

y 1 ( )
2
1
4

x + 3 ( )
2
1
16
=1

Center

= 3,1 ( )

a
2
=
1
4
- - a =
1
2
Therefore the vertices will be

1
2
unit up and down from the center

b
2
=
1
16
- - b =
1
4

a
2
+ b
2
= c
2
- -
1
4
+
1
16
= c
2
- -
5
16
= c
2
- - c =
5
16
0.6
To find the vertices, notice that

a is underneath the

y part so add and subtract

a =
1
2
from
the

y value of the center.
Vertices

= 3,1
1
2
[
\
|

)
j =
3,
3
2
[
\
|

)
j
3,
1
2
[
\
|

)
j
|

|
|
|
|
|
To find the foci, notice that

a is underneath the

y part so add and subtract

c =
5
16
0.6
from the

y value of the center.
Foci

= 3,1
5
16
[
\
|

)
j =
3,1.6 ( )
3,0.4 ( )
|

|
|
|
Slope of the asymptotes

=
a
b
=
1
2
1
4
=
4
2
= 2
To plot the graph of the hyperbola, plot the center and then count

a units up and down to
get the vertices Next, plot the asymptotes and draw the graph so it approaches the
asymptotes. If there are

x and

y intercepts be sure to plot them.

x intercepts occur when

y = 0.

y 1 ( )
2
1
4

x + 3 ( )
2
1
16
=1
0 1 ( )
2
1
4

x + 3 ( )
2
1
16
=1, using your
calculator to solve this problem you get

x = 3.4 and x = 2.6.

#22 page 687 Find the center, vertices, foci, and (slope of the) asymptotes of the
hyperbola and sketch its graph using the asymptotes as an aid.


16y
2
x
2
+ 2x + 64 y + 63 = 0
In order to put this equation in standard form we must complete the square. Start by
grouping the

x terms and the

y terms. Also move the constant term to the opposite
side.

16y
2
+ 64y +
( )
+ x
2
+ 2x +
( )
= 63
Make sure that the leading coefficient is one,

16 y
2
+ 4y +
( )
x
2
2x +
( )
= 63
then take half of the linear coefficient and square it.

1
2
4
[
\
|

)
j
2
= 4
1
2
2
[
\
|

)
j
2
=1
Be careful when balancing this equation. You must add

16 4 = 64 and

1 1 = 1 to the right
side because of the numbers on the outside of the parentheses.

16 y
2
+ 4y + 4
( )
x
2
2x +1
( )
= 63+ 64 1
16 y
2
+ 4y + 4
( )
x
2
2x +1
( )
= 0
To put this in standard form we want the right hand side equal to 1 but that is impossible so
this must be a degenerate conic.

16 y + 2 ( )
2
x 1 ( )
2
= 0
16 y + 2 ( )
2
16

x 1 ( )
2
16
=
0
16
y + 2 ( )
2
1

x 1 ( )
2
16
= 0
Center

= 1, 2 ( )

a
2
=1- - a =1

b
2
=16 - - b = 4
Slope of the asymptotes

=
a
b
=
1
4
To plot the graph, plot the center and then plot the asymptotes. This degenerate conic is
two intersecting lines.


1, 2 ( )

0, 0 ( )
degenerate conic
two intersecting lines

#26 page 687 Find the standard form of the equation of the hyperbola with the given
characteristics and center at the origin.
Vertices

3, 0 ( ) Foci

6,0 ( )
By plotting these points we should get a better idea of the standard form we are looking
for.

6,0 ( )

6, 0 ( )

3, 0 ( )

3, 0 ( )
foci vertex vertex foci
Center

= 0, 0 ( )

a = 3 the distance between the center and a vertex

a
2
= 9.

c = 6 the distance between the center and the focus.

a
2
+ b
2
= c
2

9 + b
2
= 36
b
2
= 27
|

|

Standard Form of the Hyperbola

x 0 ( )
2
9

y 0 ( )
2
27
=1 or
x
2
9
+
y
2
27
=1
#28 page 687 Find the standard form of the equation of the hyperbola with the given
characteristics and center at the origin.
Vertices

0, 3 ( ) asymptotes

y = 3x
Plot the vertices, find the center, plot the asymptotes


0, 3 ( )

0, 3 ( )
vertex
vertex
center

0, 0 ( )
Center

= 0, 0 ( )
This hyperbola opens up and down therefore it will have the following form


y k ( )
2
a
2

x h ( )
2
b
2
=1
The slope of the asymptote will be

m=
a
b
=
3
1

a = 3- - a
2
= 9

b =1- - b
2
=1
Standard Form of the Hyperbola

y 0 ( )
2
9

x 0 ( )
2
1
=1 or
y
2
9

x
2
1
=1
#32 page 688 Find the standard form of the equation of the hyperbola with the given
characteristics.
Vertices

2, 3 ( ), 2, 3 ( ) Foci

2, 5 ( ), 2, 5 ( )

2, 3 ( )

2, 3 ( )
vertex
center

2, 5 ( ) focus
vertex

2, 5 ( )
focus
Center

2, 0 ( )

a = the distance from the center to a vertex

= 3 0 = 3 and

a
2
= 3
2
= 9

c = the distance from the center to a focus

= 5 0 = 5 and

c
2
= 25

a
2
+ b
2
= c
2

9 + b
2
= 25
b
2
=16
|

|
This hyperbola opens up and down therefore it will have the following form


y k ( )
2
a
2

x h ( )
2
b
2
=1
Standard Form of the Hyperbola

y 0 ( )
2
9

x 2 ( )
2
16
=1 or
y
2
25

x 2 ( )
2
9
=1
#36 page 688 Find the standard form of the equation of the hyperbola with the given
characteristics.
Vertices

2,1 ( ), 2,1 ( ) passes through the point

5, 4 ( )
Plot the vertices to help find the correct standard form.
vertex
vertex
center

2,1 ( )

2,1 ( )

Because you have to count back and forth along the

x axis to plot the foci the correct
standard form is

x h ( )
2
a
2

y k ( )
2
b
2
=1
Center

0,1 ( )

a = the distance from the center to a vertex

= 2 0 = 2 - - a
2
= 4

x h ( )
2
a
2

y k ( )
2
b
2
=1 - -
x 0 ( )
2
4

y 1 ( )
2
b
2
=1
Now if we plug in the point

5, 4 ( ) the only thing we are missing is

b
2
.

x 0 ( )
2
4

y 1 ( )
2
b
2
=1- -
5 0 ( )
2
4

4 1 ( )
2
b
2
=1
25
4

9
b
2
=1

9
b
2
=1
25
4
=
4
4

25
4
=
21
4
9
b
2
=
21
4
36 = 21 b
2
b
2
=
36
21
=
12
7
|

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore

x 0 ( )
2
4

y 1 ( )
2
12
7
=1
#40 page 688 Find the standard form of the equation of the hyperbola with the given
characteristics.
Vertices

3, 0 ( ), 3, 6 ( ) asymptotes

y = x 6, y = x
Plot the vertices to find the center and the standard form for this hyperbola (see below)
Center

3, 3 ( )

a = distance from the center to the vertex

= 0 3 ( ) = 3 - - a
2
= 9
Since this hyperbola is going to open up and down

y k ( )
2
a
2

x h ( )
2
b
2
=1
slope of the asymptotes

= 1=
b
a
, substitute

a and you get

m=
1
1
=
b
3
- - b = 3
vertex
vertex
center

3, 6 ( )

3, 0 ( )
Standard Form of the Hyperbola

y + 3 ( )
2
9

x 3 ( )
2
9
=1
Homework.
page 687/ 5-41 odd