Unit 4B – Conic Sections – Topic 4.

6
Conic Sections: Circles & Ellipses

A conic section is a curve obtained when a plane intersects the surface of a cone.

There are 4 types of conic sections: circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas.

Circles

Consider the equation x 2 + y 2 = 9 . Solve for y to graph the circle. (Notice that this is not a function.)

x y =  9 − x2

-3

What is the center of the circle? _____________

What is the focus of the circle? ______________

What is the radius of the circle? _____________

Equation of a Circle in Vertex Form

The vertex form of the equation of a circle with center/focus (h, k) and radius, r, is:

( x − h) 2 + ( y − k ) 2 = r 2
 Practice: Use the given information to graph the relation and fill in the blanks.

1. Equation: x 2 + y 2 = 25 2. Equation: ( x − 2) 2 + ( y + 1) 2 = 16

Center ________________ Center ________________

Focus _______________ Focus _______________

Radius ______________ Radius ______________

3. Radius: 3 Focus: (2, -5) 4. Diameter Endpoints: (-3, 1) and (5, -1)

Center ________________ Center ________________ Focus _______________

Equation ______________________________ Radius ________

Equation ______________________________
 Ellipses

An ellipse is the collection of all points in the plane the sum of whose distances from two fixed points,
called foci, is a constant. For any point on the ellipse shown below, d1 + d2 is constant.

The vertices are located at the intersections of the ellipse and the major axis.

The co-vertices are located at the intersections of the ellipse and the minor axis.

The two foci are always on the major axis.

Ellipse with a Horizontal Major Axis Ellipse with a Vertical Major Axis

( x − h) 2 ( y − k ) 2 ( x − h) 2 ( y − k ) 2
Vertex Form: + =1 Vertex Form: + =1
a2 b2 b2 a2
a is the (horizontal) distance from the center (h, k) to a is the (vertical) distance from the center (h, k) to
each vertex. each vertex.

b is the (vertical) distance from the center (h, k) to b is the (horizontal) distance from the center (h, k) to
each co-vertex. each co-vertex.

c is the (horizontal) distance from the center (h, k) to c is the (vertical) distance from the center (h, k) to
each focus, given c 2 = a 2 − b2 . each focus, given c 2 = a 2 − b2 .

“a” is paired with the major axis and “b” is paired with the minor axis!
 Examples
1. Given the equation 4 x + y = 36 , find the following:
2 2

Vertex Form: ________________________________ Graph:

Major Axis: ________________________

Minor Axis: ________________________

Center: ___________________________

a = __________________

b = __________________

c = ___________________

Vertices: _____________________________

Co-Vertices: ___________________________

Foci: _________________________________

2. Given that the major axis of an ellipse has a total length 6 and the foci are located at (-2,0) and (2,0),
find the following:

Major Axis: ________________________ Graph:

Minor Axis: ________________________

Center: ___________________________

c = ___________________

a = __________________

b = __________________

Vertex Form: ________________________________

Vertices: _____________________________

Co-Vertices: ___________________________

3. Find the equation for an ellipse where the vertices are at ( 0, 8 ) and the foci are at ( 0, 4 ) .
 4. Given that an ellipse has vertices ( 0, 5 ) and that passes through the point (4,2), find the following:

Major Axis: ________________________ Graph:

Minor Axis: ________________________

Center: ___________________________

a = __________________

b = __________________

c = ___________________

Vertex Form: ________________________________

Co-Vertices: ___________________________

5. Given the equation 4( x − 3) 2 + ( y + 2) 2 = 36 , find the following:

Vertex Form: ________________________________ Graph:

Major Axis: ________________________

Minor Axis: ________________________

Center: ___________________________

a = __________________

b = __________________

c = ___________________

Vertices: _____________________________

Co-Vertices: ___________________________

Foci: _________________________________
 Unit 9 Day 2
Parabolas

In Algebra II, we learned that a parabola is the graph formed by a quadratic function. This has not
changed, but a parabola can also be defined as the set of all points in a plane which are equidistant
from a given point (called the focus of the parabola) and a given line (called the directrix of the
parabola).

Parabola with a Horizontal Line of Symmetry

Parabola with a Vertical Line of Symmetry
Vertex Form: ( y − k ) 2 = 4 p ( x − h)
Vertex Form: ( x − h) 2 = 4 p ( y − k )
The vertex of the parabola is (h, k).
The vertex of the parabola is (h, k).
The focus of the parabola is (h + p, k).
The focus of the parabola is (h, k + p).
The equation of the directrix of the parabola is
The equation of the directrix of the parabola is x = h – p.
y = k – p.
The two points that intersect the parabola and the
The two points that intersect the parabola and the latus rectum of the parabola are
latus rectum of the parabola are (h, k – 2p) and (h, k + 2p).
(h – 2p, k) and (h + 2p, k).
 Examples
1. Given the equation x = 8 y , find the following:
2

The parabola opens ___________. Graph:

Line of Symmetry: ________________________

Vertex: ___________________________

p = __________________

Focus:_____________________

Directrix: ___________________________

Points on the Latus Rectum: _________________________________

2. Given the equation y 2 = −12 x , find the following:

The parabola opens ___________. Graph:

Line of Symmetry: ________________________

Vertex: ___________________________

p = __________________

Focus:_____________________

Directrix: ___________________________

Points on the Latus Rectum: _________________________________

3. Find the equation for a parabola that has a vertex at (0, 0) and focus at (0, -7).
 4. Given the equation ( x − 1) 2 = 8( y − 3) , find the following:

The parabola opens ___________. Graph:

Line of Symmetry: ________________________

Vertex: ___________________________

p = __________________

Focus:_____________________

Directrix: ___________________________

Points on the Latus Rectum: _________________________________

 1 
5. Given a parabola that includes the point  − , 2  , line of symmetry at y = 0, and vertex at (0, 0), find
 2 
the following:

The parabola opens ___________. Graph:

Equation: _____________________________

p = __________________

Focus:_____________________

Directrix: ___________________________

Points on the Latus Rectum: _________________________________

6. Find the focus and directrix of the parabola whose equation is y = −2 x .

2
7. A satellite dish is shaped like a paraboloid of revolution. The signals that emanate from a satellite
strike the surface of the dish and are reflected to a single point, where the receiver is located. If the
dish is 8 ft across at its opening and 3 ft deep at its center, at what position should the receiver be
placed?

8. The cables of a suspension bridge are in the shape of a parabola. The towers supporting the cable are
400 feet apart and 100 feet high. If the cables are at a height of 10 feet midway between the towers,
what is the height of the cable at a point 50 feet from the center of the bridge?
 Unit 9 Day 3
Hyperbolas

A hyperbola is the collection of all points in the plane the difference of whose distances from two fixed
points, called foci is a constant.

The line through the two vertices and the two foci is called the transverse axis. The line through the
two co-vertices (co-vertices do not touch the hyperbola) is called the conjugate axis.

Hyperbola with a Horizontal Transverse Axis Hyperbola with a Vertical Transverse Axis

( x − h) 2 ( y − k ) 2 ( y − k ) 2 ( x − h) 2
Vertex Form: − =1 Vertex Form: − =1
a2 b2 a2 b2
The hyperbola opens to the left and right. The hyperbola opens up and down.

The center of the hyperbola is (h, k). The center of the hyperbola is (h, k).

The vertices of the hyperbola are The vertices of the hyperbola are
(h + a, k) and (h – a, k). (h, k + a) and (h, k – a).

The co-vertices (do not touch the hyperbola) are The co-vertices (do not touch the hyperbola) are
(h, k + b) and (h, k – b). (h + b, k) and (h – b, k).

The foci of the hyperbola are The foci of the hyperbola are
(h + c, k) and (h – c, k), (h, k + c) and (h, k – c),
given c 2 = a 2 + b 2 . given c 2 = a 2 + b 2 .

The asymptotes of the hyperbola are The asymptotes of the hyperbola are
b a
y − k =  ( x − h). y − k =  ( x − h).
a b

Notice that “a” is paired with the positive variable and “b” is paired with the negative variable!
 Examples
2 2
x y
1. Given the equation − = 1 , find the following:
16 4

The parabola opens ___________________. Graph:

Tranverse Axis: ________________________

Conjugate Axis: ________________________

Center: ______________________

a = ______________

b = ______________

c = ______________

Vertices: ___________________________

Covertices: __________________________

Foci: ______________________

Asymptotes: __________________________________

( y − 1) 2 ( x + 2) 2
2. Given the equation − = 1 , find the following:
25 9

The parabola opens ___________________. Graph:

Tranverse Axis: ________________________

Conjugate Axis: ________________________

Center: ______________________

a = ______________

b = ______________

c = ______________

Vertices: ___________________________

Covertices: __________________________

Foci: ______________________

Asymptotes: __________________________________
 3. Find an equation of the hyperbola with center at the origin, one focus at (3,0) and one vertex at (-2,0).

4. Find an equation of the hyperbola with vertices at (1, 2) and (1, -2) and foci at (1, 4) and (1, -4).

5. Find an equation of the hyperbola with vertices at (3, 5) and (-3, 5) and passes through (4, 6).

6. Given the equation y 2 − 4 x 2 = 4 , find the following:

Vertex Form: _____________________________ Graph:

The parabola opens ___________________.

Tranverse Axis: ________________________

Conjugate Axis: ________________________

Center: ______________________

a = ______________

b = ______________

c = ______________

Vertices: ___________________________

Covertices: __________________________

Foci: ______________________

Asymptotes: __________________________________
 Unit 9 Day 4
Conics in Standard Form

Warm-Up
( x − 1)
2
1. Given the equation − ( y − 4) 2 = 1 , find the following:
36

Type of Conic: __________________ Graph:

Opens ___________________

Tranverse Axis: ________________________

Conjugate Axis: ________________________

Center: ______________________

a = ______________

b = ______________

c = ______________

Vertices: ___________________________

Covertices: __________________________

Foci: ______________________

Asymptotes: _________________________

Given the equation ( x − 2 ) = −4 ( y − 3) , find the following:

2
2.

Type of Conic: _________________________ Graph:

Opens _________________

Line of Symmetry: ________________________

Vertex: ___________________________

p = __________________

Focus:_____________________

Directrix: ___________________________

Points on the Latus Rectum: ________________

 ( x − 3) ( y + 1)
2 2

3. Given the equation + = 1 , find the following:

4 25

Type of Conic: ________________________________ Graph:

Major Axis: ________________________

Minor Axis: ________________________

Center: ___________________________

a = __________________

b = __________________

c = ___________________

Vertices: _____________________________

Co-Vertices: ___________________________

Foci: _____________________________
4. Given the equation ( x − 1) + ( y + 2 ) = 9 , find the following:
2 2

Type of Conic: ________________________________ Graph:

Center: ____________________

Focus: ____________________

Radius: ___________________

Standard Form of the Equation: ____________________________

Converting to Vertex Form

In Algebra II, we used the method of “completing the square” to write quadratic equations in vertex form, or
to solve some quadratic equations. We can use this method to convert any standard form conic equation into
vertex form.

Review: Convert y = x 2 − 6 x + 2 into vertex form.

 Examples
Convert each equation into vertex form, identify the type of conic, and graph the equation.

1. Standard Form: x 2 + 4 y 2 + 6 x − 8 y + 9 = 0

Type of Conic: _____________________________

Vertex Form: ____________________________________

2. Standard Form: −4 x 2 + y 2 + 24 x + 4 y − 41 = 0

Type of Conic: _____________________________

Vertex Form: ____________________________________

3. Standard Form: x 2 − 2 x + 1 = −4 y + 4

Type of Conic: _____________________________

Vertex Form: ____________________________________