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Parabolas: Section 10 - 5

The document discusses parabolas and their key properties: 1) A parabola is defined as the set of all points equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and a line (the directrix). 2) The standard form equations for a parabola oriented vertically or horizontally are given, with the vertex (h,k) and focal length p. 3) Examples are given of writing the standard and general form equations of parabolas given properties like the focus, directrix, or a point on the curve.

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33 views

Parabolas: Section 10 - 5

The document discusses parabolas and their key properties: 1) A parabola is defined as the set of all points equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and a line (the directrix). 2) The standard form equations for a parabola oriented vertically or horizontally are given, with the vertex (h,k) and focal length p. 3) Examples are given of writing the standard and general form equations of parabolas given properties like the focus, directrix, or a point on the curve.

Uploaded by

biboy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parabolas

Section 10 - 5
The Parabola
The parabola is the locus of all points in a plane that are
the same distance from a line in the plane, the directrix,
as from a fixed point in the plane, the focus.

Point Focus = Point Directrix


PF = PD

|p| |p| The parabola has one axis of


symmetry, which intersects
the parabola at its vertex.
The distance from the
vertex to the focus is | p |.
The distance from the
directrix to the vertex is also | p |.
The Standard Form of the Equation with Vertex (h, k)
For a parabola with the axis of symmetry parallel to
the y-axis and vertex at (h, k), the standard form is …
(x - h)2 = 4p(y - k)
• The equation of the axis of symmetry is x = h.
• The coordinates of the focus are (h, k + p).
• The equation of the directrix
is y = k - p.
• When p is positive,
the parabola opens upward.

• When p is negative,
the parabola opens downward.
The Standard Form of the Equation with Vertex (h, k)
For a parabola with an axis of symmetry parallel to the
x-axis and a vertex at (h, k), the standard form is:
(y - k)2 = 4p(x - h)

• The equation of the axis of symmetry is y = k.

• The coordinates of the focus


are (h + p, k).
• The equation of the directrix
is x = h - p.
• When p is positive, the parabola
opens to the right.

• When p is negative, the parabola


opens to the left.
Finding the Equations of Parabolas
Write the equation of the parabola with a focus at (3, 5) and
the directrix at x = 9, in standard form and general form
The distance from the focus to the directrix is 6 units,
therefore, 2p = -6, p = -3. Thus, the vertex is (6, 5).
The axis of symmetry is parallel to the x-axis:
(y - k)2 = 4p(x - h) h = 6 and k = 5
(6, 5)
(y - 5)2 = 4(-3)(x - 6)

(y - 5)2 = -12(x - 6) Standard form


Finding the Equations of Parabolas
Find the equation of the parabola that has a minimum at
(-2, 6) and passes through the point (2, 8).
The axis of symmetry is parallel to the y-axis.
The vertex is (-2, 6), therefore, h = -2 and k = 6.
Substitute into the standard form of the equation
and solve for p:
(x - h)2 = 4p(y - k) x = 2 and y = 8
(2 - (-2))2 = 4p(8 - 6)
16 = 8p
2=p

(x - h)2 = 4p(y - k)
(x - (-2))2 = 4(2)(y - 6)
(x + 2)2 = 8(y - 6) Standard form
Analyzing a Parabola
Find the coordinates of the vertex and focus,
the equation of the directrix, the axis of symmetry,
and the direction of opening of 2x2 + 4x - 2y + 6 = 0.
2x2 + 4x - 2y + 6 = 0
1 = 2y - 6 + _____
2(x2 + 2x + _____) 2(1)

2(x + 1)2 = 2(y - 2)


(x + 1)2 = (y - 2)

4p = 1
p=¼
The parabola opens to upward.
The vertex is (-1, 2).
The focus is ( -1, 2 ¼ ).
The Equation of directrix is y = 1¾ .
The axis of symmetry is x = -1 .
Graphing a Parabola

y2 - 10x + 4y - 16 = 0
y2 + 4y + _____
4 = 10x + 16 + _____
4
(y + 2)2 = 10x + 20
(y + 2)2 = 10(x + 2)

Horizontally oriented (right)


Vertex @ (-2, -2)
Line of Symmetry y = -2
P = 2.5
focus @ ( 0.5, -3)
Directrix X = - 4.5

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