Conics

1. Identify the graph of the given equation

(a) 3x + 8y 2 = 1

(b) x2 + 10x + y 2 − 7 = 0

(c) 2x2 − 3y 2 + 18y = 12

√
(d) y = 16 − x2

(e) 31x2 − y = 100

(f) −5x2 + 20x − y 2 + 40y − 55 = 0

(g) (x − 1)2 + y 2 = 7

(h) 3(x + 3)2 = 1 − 3y 2

√
(i) x = 5y + 10

(j) 12y + 3x2 = 4x2 − 7x

√
(k) 3y = 2x − 12 − 6

(l) 10y = x2 − 100x + 1

(m) (x − 1)2 + (x − 1) + y = 0

(n) (y − 21 )2 + (y − 21 ) + 1
4
= 1 − x2

(o) (2x + 3)2 − (4y + 3)2 = −22

(p) x + 1 = (y − 53 )2 + 4
(x − 1)2 (2 − y)2
(q) +2= 2
4 3

x2 (y − 2)2
2. Find a so that the ellipse + = 1 is a circle.
a2 8
3. Find k so that the ellipse x2 + 4x + 3y 2 = 1 − k has center (−2, 0).

4. Find b so that the parabola 2x2 − 12x + b = 2y − 2 has vertex (3, 1).

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5. Convert the following equations in standard form of the equations of the conics.

(a) x2 − 2x + y 2 − 10y = 0

(b) x − 2y 2 + 5y = 3

(c) x2 − y 2 + 16x − 12y + 75 = 0

6. Write the equation of a parabola standard form such that it opens to the left, its vertex is
the center of the ellipse 4x2 + 8x + 6y 2 − 18y = 0 and c = 4.

7. Sketch the graph of the parabola 16x2 − 32x = 2y − 20.

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 Conics

1. Identify the graph of the given equation

(a) 3x + 8y 2 = 1

(b) x2 + 10x + y 2 − 7 = 0

(c) 2x2 − 3y 2 + 18y = 12

√
(d) y = 16 − x2

(e) 31x2 − y = 100

(f) −5x2 + 20x − y 2 + 40y − 55 = 0

(g) (x − 1)2 + y 2 = 7

(h) 3(x + 3)2 = 1 − 3y 2

√
(i) x = 5y + 10

(j) 12y + 3x2 = 4x2 − 7x

√
(k) 3y = 2x − 12 − 6

(l) 10y = x2 − 100x + 1

(m) (x − 1)2 + (x − 1) + y = 0

(n) (y − 21 )2 + (y − 21 ) + 1
4
= 1 − x2

(o) (2x + 3)2 − (4y + 3)2 = −22

(p) x + 1 = (y − 53 )2 + 4
(x − 1)2 (2 − y)2
(q) +2= 2
4 3

x2 (y − 2)2
2. Find a so that the ellipse + = 1 is a circle.
a2 8
3. Find k so that the ellipse x2 + 4x + 3y 2 = 1 − k has center (−2, 0).

4. Find b so that the parabola 2x2 − 12x + b = 2y − 2 has vertex (3, 1).

1
5. Convert the following equations in standard form of the equations of the conics.

(a) x2 − 2x + y 2 − 10y = 0

(b) x − 2y 2 + 5y = 3

(c) x2 − y 2 + 16x − 12y + 75 = 0

6. Write the equation of a parabola standard form such that it opens to the left, its vertex is
the center of the ellipse 4x2 + 8x + 6y 2 − 18y = 0 and c = 4.

7. Sketch the graph of the parabola 16x2 − 32x = 2y − 20.

Solutions to Selected Exercises

1. (a) 3x + 8y 2 = 1

Solution. A = 0, B = 8 are the coefficients in the general form of equation of conics.

As AB = 0, we have a parabola.

(b) x2 + 10x + y 2 − 7 = 0

Solution. We have A = B = 1 so that this is a circle.

(c) 2x2 − 3y 2 + 18y = 12

Solution. This is a hyperbola since A = 2 and B = −3 and AB = −6 < 0.

√
(d) y = 16 − x2

Solution. By squaring both sides we obtain y 2 = 16 − x2 . This is x2 + y 2 = 42 . In

the original equation, y ≥ 0 so that the graph is half a circle with center at the origin
and radius 4. The half circle is above the x−axis y ≥ 0.

(f) −5x2 + 20x − y 2 + 40y − 55 = 0

Solution. This is an ellipse.

√
(i) x = 5y + 10

Solution. Square both sides: x2 = 5y + 10 ⇒ x2 = 5(y + 2). The left hand side is
greater than or equal to zero and this should hold also for the right hand side. This
means y + 2 ≥ 0 ⇒ y ≥ −2. Thus, the graph is half a parabola with vertex at (0, −2),
opening upwards, and exists only to the right of the y−axis, x ≥ 0.

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 (m) (x − 1)2 + (x − 1) + y = 0

Solution. The coefficients are A = 1, B = 0 in the general equation. This gives a

parabola.
In fact, (x−1)2 +(x−1)+y = 0 ⇒ (x−1)2 +(x−1)+ 41 = −y+ 14 ⇒ (x−1+ 12 )2 = −y+ 14 .
This give the parabola (x − 12 )2 = −(y − 14 ), with vertex ( 21 , 14 ) and facing down.

(n) (y − 12 )2 + (y − 21 ) + 1
4
= 1 − x2

Solution. (y − 21 )2 + (y − 12 ) + 1
4
= 1 − x2 ⇒ (y − 12 )2 + (y − 12 ) + 14 − 1 + x2 = 0 so
that the coefficients are A = 1 and B = 1, a circle.
x2 (y − 2)2
2. Find a so that the ellipse + = 1 is a circle.
a2 8
√
Solution. b2 = 8 so that b = a = 8.

3. Find k so that the ellipse x2 + 4x + 3y 2 = 1 − k has center (−2, 0).

Solution. Complete the square x2 + 4x + 3y 2 = 1 − k ⇒ (x2 + 4x + 4) + 3y 2 = 5 − k. We

(x+2)2 3y 2
have (x + 2)2 + 3y 2 = 5 − k ⇒ 5−k
+ 5−k
= 1. For this to be an ellipse a2 = 5 − k > 0
so that k < 5.

4. Find b so that the parabola 2x2 − 12x + b = 2y − 2 has vertex (3, 1).

Solution. 2(x2 − 6x + 9) = 2y − 2 − b + 18 = 2(y + 8 − 2b ) ⇒ (x + 3)2 = y − ( 2b − 8). We

b
must have 2
− 8 = 1 or b = 18.

5. Convert the following equations in standard form of the equations of the conics.

(a) x2 − 2x + y 2 − 10y = 0

(b) x − 2y 2 + 5y = 3

(c) x2 − y 2 + 16x − 12y + 75 = 0

Solutions.

(a) x2 −2x+y 2 −10y = 0 ⇒ (x2 −2x+1)+(y 2 −10y+25) = 26 ⇒ (x − 1)2 + (y − 5)2 = 26

25
(b) x − 2y 2 + 5y = 3 ⇒ x − 3 = 2y 2 − 5y ⇒ x − 3 + 8
= 2(y 2 − 25 y + 25
16
) ⇒
1 5 2
2
(x − 3) = (y − 4
).

(c) x2 − y 2 + 16x − 12y + 75 = 0 ⇒ (x2 + 16x + 64) − (y 2 + 12y + 36) = −75 + 64 + 36 ⇒

(x+8)2 (y+6)2
(x + 8)2 − (y + 6)2 = 25 ⇒ 25
− 25
= 1.

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6. Write the equation of a parabola standard form such that it opens to the left, its vertex is
the center of the ellipse 4x2 + 8x + 6y 2 − 18y = 0 and c = 4.

Solution. 4x2 + 8x + 6y 2 − 18y = 0 ⇒ 4(x2 + 2x)2 + 6(y 2 − 3y) = 0 ⇒ 4(x2 + 2x +

(x+1)2 (y− 32 )2
1) + 6(y 2 − 3y + 49 ) = 4 + 27
2
⇒ 4(x + 1)2 + 6(y − 23 )2 = 35
2
⇒ 35 + 35 = 1.
8 12

The center of the ellipse is (−1, 32 ) = (h, k). This will be the vertex of the parabola
−4c(x − h) = (y − k)2 ⇒ −16(x + 1) = (y − 23 )2 .

7. Sketch the graph of the parabola 16x2 − 32x = 2y − 20.

Solution.

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 Conics

Class Problems

1. Identify the following conic: 2(x + y 2 + 4x2 ) = 2 − 3y

Solution.
2x + 2y 2 + x2 = 2 − 3y ⇒ the coefficients are A = 1, B = 2 ⇒ we have an ellipse.

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 √
2. Identify the graph of x = 2 − 8 − 8y
√
Solution. Write the above equation as (x − 2) = − 8 − 8y. First, observe that x − 2 ≤
0 ⇒ x ≤ 2. Square both sides (x − 2)2 = 8 − 8y ⇒ x2 − 4x + 4 = 8 − 8y ⇒ x2 − 4x + 8y − 4 = 0.
The coefficients are A = 1, B = 0, and we have half a parabola due to the condition x ≤ 2.

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3. Find t so that (3 + t)x2 + 4x + y 2 = 1 is a parabola.

Solution. (3 + t)x2 + 4x + y 2 = 1 is a parabola if the coefficient of x2 is 0. This gives t = −3.

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 4. Give a pair of values (u, v) so that 1 − (1 − u)x2 + v(y − 5)2 = 0

(a) is an ellipse

(b) a hyperbola

Solution.

(a) Give a solution to −(1 − u)v > 0 ⇒ (1 − u)v < 0 : u = 0, v = −1. Another solution is
u = 2, v = 1.

(b) Give a solution to −(1 − u)v < 0 ⇒ (1 − u)v > 0 : u = 0, v = 1. Another solution is
u = 2, v = −1.

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 (x − h) (y − 3)2
5. Find h so that the center of the hyperbola − = 1 is on the line x + y = 5.
16 25

Solution. The center (h, 3) must lie on x + y = 5 ⇒ h + 3 = 5 ⇒ h = 2.

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 6. Consider the equation

(3 − 2a)x2 − 2x + 5ay 2 + y = 1.

Find the range of values of a so that the graph of the equation is

(a) a parabola

(b) an ellipse

(c) a hyperbola

Solution.

(a) a parabola: (3 − 2a)5a = 0 but NOT both factors must be 0. This gives a = 0 or a = 23 .

(b) an ellipse: (3 − 2a)5a > 0 ⇒ a ∈ (0, 32 ).

(c) a hyperbola: just take the complement of the previous item. a ∈ (−∞, 0) ∪ ( 32 , +∞). This
comes from the inequality (3 − 2a)5a < 0.