Conic Sections

The Parabola
 Introduction
• Consider a cone being intersected with a
plane Note the different
shaped curves that result
 Introduction
They can be
described or
• We will consider various conic sections and
defined as a set
of points which
how they are described analytically
satisfy certain
conditions

 Parabolas
 Hyperbolas
 Ellipses
 Circles
 Parabola
• Definition
 A set of points on the plane that are equidistant
from
 A fixed line
(the directrix) and
 A fixed point
(the focus) not on the
directrix
 Parabola
• Note the line through the focus,
perpendicular to the directrix
 Axis of symmetry
• Note the point
midway between the
directrix and the focus
 Vertex

View Geogebra
Demonstration
 Equation of Parabola
• Let the vertex be at (0, 0)
 Axis of symmetry be y-axis
 Directrix be the line y = -p (where p > 0)
 Focus is then at (0, p)
• For any point (x, y) on the parabola

 x  0   y  p  ( x, y )
2 2
Distance = Distance = y + p
 Equation of Parabola
• Setting the two distances equal to each other

 x  0   y  p   y p
2 2

. . . simplifying . . .

x2  4  p  y

• What happens if p < 0?

• What happens if we have y  4  p  x
2
?
 Working with the Formula
• Given the equation of a parabola
 y = ½ x2
• Determine
 The directrix
 The focus
• Given the focus at (-3,0) and the fact that the
vertex is at the origin
• Determine the equation
 When the Vertex Is (h, k)
• Standard form of equation for vertical axis of
symmetry
  
x  h  4 p  y  k
2

• Consider
 What are the coordinates
of the focus?
 What is the equation
(h, k)
of the directrix?
 When the Vertex Is (h, k)
• Standard form of equation for horizontal axis
of symmetry
  
y  k  4 p x  h 
2

• Consider
 What are the coordinates
of the focus?
(h, k)
 What is the equation
of the directrix?
 Try It Out
• Given the equations below,
 What is the focus?
 What is the directrix?

4 x 2  12 x  12 y  7  0
( x  3)  ( y  2)
2

x  y  4y  9  0
2
 Another Concept
• Given the directrix at x = -1 and focus at (3,2)
• Determine the standard form of the parabola
 Applications
• Reflections of light rays
 Parallel rays
strike surface
of parabola
 Reflected back
to the focus
View Animated Demo
Spreadsheet Demo
How to Find the Focus
Build a working
Proof of the parabolic cooker
Reflection Property MIT & Myth Busters
 Applications
• Light rays leaving the focus reflect
out in parallel rays

Used for
Searchlights

Military
Searchlights
 Assignment

• See Handout
• Part A 1 – 33 odd
• Part B 35 – 43 all