Consider three points: (2, 4)

, , and .

Determine the distance

between each point and (1.5, 2.25)
1
(0, ).
4
(1, 1)
Determine the distance
between each point and
1
the line, =
4
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Conic Sections:

Von Christopher G. Chua

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 OUR LEARNING
GOALS

PARABOLAS:
Equations and Graphs

mathbychua.weebly.com

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DEFINITION

PARABOLA
Let be a given point, and a
given line not containing . The
set of all points such that its
distances from and from are
equal, is called a parabola. The
point is its focus and the line
its directrix.
 EQUATION of a
axis of
symmetry

The standard form of the

equation of a parabola with
(, )
vertex is at the point of origin
and opens upward or
downward is
2 = 4
If a parabola with its vertex at (0, )
the (0,0) opens sideways, the
standard form of its equation is
vertex
2 = 4
(, )
5 5
 SIDE
QUESTION:

What do you
notice about the
position of the
focus with respect
2 = 4, > 0 2 = 4, < 0
to the graph?
1 When the parabola 2 When the parabola
opens upward opens downward

4 PARABOLA
TYPES of 2 = 4, > 0

When the parabola 3

2 = 4, < 0

4 When the parabola

opens to the right opens to the left
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 LETS
DISCUSS Determine the Orientation

To which direction does each of the following

parabolas open to?
2 = 12
2 = 16
2
= 18
2 2 = 24
6 2 = 14
EXAMPLE Focus & Directrix

How do we determine the focus and directrix of a

parabola with vertex at the origin?

2 = 12
Since the quadratic variable is and the coefficient of is
positive, the parabola opens upward.
The vertex is at 0,0 and
the axis of symmetry is the -axis or = 0
Compared to , we can determine that
The focus of the parabola is therefore at (, ) and its directrix is
the line =
YOUR
TURN! Focus & Directrix

Determine the focus and directrix of the following

parabola based from the given equation.
2 = 16
2 = 18
2
2 = 24
6 2 = 14
 WHAT IF
!
But what if the
parabola does not
have its vertex at
the point of origin?
WHAT IF
PARABOLAS
with Vertex NOT on (0,0)

The standard form of the

equation of a parabola that
opens upward or downward is
22= 4
( ) 4( )
If a parabola opens sideways,
v the standard form of its
(, )
equation is
22= 4
( ) 4( )
EXAMPLE
Describe the parabola,
1 2 = 16( 4).
What is its graphs orientation?
What are the coordinates of its vertex?
What is the value of in the equation?
So, if = 4, what are the coordinates
of the focus?
What is the equation of the line that is
the directrix?
The graph opens upward.
Its vertex is at (, ).
If = , then =
The coordinates of the
focus are (, )
The directrix is = .
Axis of symmetry
=

focus Axis of symmetry

(, + ) focus =
( + , )
v v
(, ) (, )

directrix
=
directrix
=
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