DOUBLEROOT Cheat Sheet – Parabola

Equations Three normals from a point P (h, k)

Focus: (a, 0), Directrix: x + a = 0 (t1), (t2), (t3) are the feet of normals from P
2 t1 + t 2 + t 3 = 0
y = 4ax (Standard)
Shifted Parabola (Axis Parallel to X-axis) 2a − h
2
t1 t 2 + t 2 t 3 + t 3 t1 =
x = ay + by + c or a
2 k
b 1 b2 − 4ac t1 t 2 t 3 =
(y + ) = 4 ( ) (x + ) a
2a 4a 4a
Focus: (0, a), Directrix: y + a = 0
Chord
x 2 = 4ay Chord with end points (t1) and (t2)
Shifted Parabola (Axis Parallel to Y-axis) (t1 + t 2 )y = 2(x + at1 t 2 )
y = ax 2 + bx + c or Chord of contact w.r.t the point (x1, y1)
b 2 1 b2 − 4ac T=0 (S1 > 0)
(x + ) = 4 ( ) (y + ) Chord with mid-point (x1, y1)
2a 4a 4a
Focus: (x1, y1), Directrix: ax + by + c = 0 T = S1 (S1 < 0)
(ax + by + c)2 Some relations related to parametric form
(x − x1 )2 + (y − y1 )2 =
a2 + b 2 (t1) and (t2) are the end points of a focal chord
Parametric Equation t1 t 2 = −1
2
x = at , y = 2at Point (t) (t1) and (t2) subtend 90° at the vertex
Notations t1 t 2 = −4
2
S = y − 4ax Normal at (t1) meets the parabola at (t2)
T = yy1 − 2a(x + x1 ) 2
t 2 = −t1 −
S1 = y12 − 4ax1 t1
Position of a point (x1, y1) w.r.t. a parabola Normals at (t1) and (t2) intersect on the parabola
Outside: S1 > 0, On: S1 = 0, Inside: S1 < 0 t1 t 2 = 2
Tangent Some Properties of the Parabola
Equation of the tangent having slope m
y = mx + a/m
Equation of the tangent at the point (x1, y1)
T=0 (S1 = 0)
Equation of the tangent at the point (t)
ty = x + at 2
Point of intersection of tangents at (t1) and (t2)
(at1 t 2 , a(t1 + t 2 ))
Pair of tangents from an external point (x1, y1)
SS1 = T 2 (S1 > 0) >> Foot of perpendicular from focus upon any tangent lies
Normal on the tangent at vertex (∠SQP=90°)

Equation of the normal having slope m >> Segment of tangent intercepted between point of
3
y = mx − 2am − am contact and the directrix subtends right angle at focus
Equation of the normal at the point (x1, y1) (∠KSP=90°)
y1
y − y1 = − (x − x1 ) >> Any line parallel to the axis passes through the focus
2a after reflection (∠CPN=∠NPS)
Equation of the normal at the point (t)
y = −tx + 2at + at 3 >> Points of intersection of tangent and normal with the
Point of intersection of normals at (t1) and (t2) axis, and the point of contact are equidistant from the
(2a + a(t12 + t 22 + t1 t 2 ), −at1 t 2 (t1 + t 2 )) focus (SP = SN = ST)

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