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College Algebra: Fifth Edition

The document discusses parabolas and their geometric properties. It defines a parabola as the set of points equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and a fixed line (the directrix). Cutting a cone horizontally produces a circle, while other cuts produce parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. The goal is to find equations for these conic sections based on their geometric definitions. Specific topics covered include the standard equation for a parabola with a vertical axis, finding the focus and directrix from a given equation, and applications of parabolic reflection.

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John Philip Reyes
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24 views50 pages

College Algebra: Fifth Edition

The document discusses parabolas and their geometric properties. It defines a parabola as the set of points equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and a fixed line (the directrix). Cutting a cone horizontally produces a circle, while other cuts produce parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. The goal is to find equations for these conic sections based on their geometric definitions. Specific topics covered include the standard equation for a parabola with a vertical axis, finding the focus and directrix from a given equation, and applications of parabolic reflection.

Uploaded by

John Philip Reyes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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College Algebra

Fifth Edition
James Stewart  Lothar Redlin  Saleem Watson
Conic
9 Sections
Chapter Overview

Conic sections are the curves we get


when we make a straight cut in a cone.

• For example, if a cone is cut


horizontally, the cross section
is a circle.

• So, a circle is a conic section.


Chapter Overview

Other ways of cutting a cone produce


parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.
Chapter Overview

Our goal in this chapter is to find


equations whose graphs are the conic
sections.

• We already know from Section 2.2 that the graph


of the equation x2 + y2 = r2 is a circle.

• We will find equations for each of the other conic


sections by analyzing their geometric properties.
8.1 Parabolas
Parabolas

We saw in Section 4.1 that the graph of


the equation y = ax2 + bx + c is a U-shaped
curve called a parabola that opens either
upward or downward—depending on whether
the sign of a is positive or negative.

• Here, we study parabolas from a geometric


rather than an algebraic point of view.
Parabolas

We begin with the geometric definition


of a parabola and show how this leads to
the algebraic formula that we are already
familiar with.
Parabola—Geometric Definition

A parabola is the set of points in the plane


equidistant from a fixed point F (focus) and
a fixed line l (directrix).

• The vertex V lies halfway


between the focus and
the directrix.
• The axis of symmetry is
the line that runs through
the focus perpendicular
to the directrix.
Parabolas

In this section, we restrict our attention to


parabolas that:

• Are situated with the vertex at the origin.


• Have a vertical or horizontal axis of symmetry.

Parabolas in more general positions will be


considered in Section 8.4.
Parabolas

If the focus of such a parabola is the point


F(0, p), the axis of symmetry must be vertical
and the directrix has the equation y = –p.

• The figure
illustrates
the case p > 0.
Parabolas

If P(x, y) is any point on the parabola,

• The distance from P to the focus F


(using the Distance Formula)
is:
x 2  ( y  p )2

• The distance from


P to the directrix
is:
| y – (–p) | = | y + p |
Parabolas

By the definition of a parabola, these two


distances must be equal:

x  ( y  p)  y  p
2 2

2
x  ( y  p)  y  p  ( y  p)
2 2 2

x  y  2 py  p  y  2py  p
2 2 2 2 2

x 2  2 py  2 py
x  4 py
2
Parabolas

If p > 0, then the parabola opens upward.


If p < 0, it opens downward.

When x is replaced by –x, the equation


remains unchanged.
• So, the graph is symmetric about the y-axis.
Equations and Graphs
of Parabola
Equations and Graphs of Parabola

We now summarize what we have just


proved about the equation and features
of a parabola with a vertical axis.
Parabola with Vertical Axis

The graph of the equation


x2 = 4py
is a parabola with these properties.

Vertex V(0, 0)

Focus F(0, p)

Directrix y = –p
Parabola with Vertical Axis

The parabola opens:


• Upward if p > 0.
• Downward if p < 0.
E.g. 1—Finding the Equation of a Parabola

Find the equation of the parabola


with vertex V(0, 0) and focus F(0, 2),
and sketch its graph.

• Since the focus is F(0, 2), we conclude that p = 2


(and so the directrix is y = –2).

• Thus, the equation is: x2 = 4(2)y


x2 = 8y
E.g. 1—Finding the Equation of a Parabola

Since p = 2 > 0, the parabola opens


upward.
E.g. 2—Finding Focus and Directrix from Equation

Find the focus and directrix of the


parabola y = –x2, and sketch the graph.

• To find the focus and directrix, we put the given


equation in the standard form x2 = –y.

• Comparing this to the general equation x2 = 4py,


we see that 4p = –1; so, p = –¼.

• The focus is F(0, –¼) and the directrix is y = ¼.


E.g. 2—Finding Focus and Directrix from Equation

Here’s the graph of the parabola,


together with the focus and the directrix.
E.g. 2—Finding Focus and Directrix from Equation

We can also draw the graph using


a graphing calculator.
Equations and Graphs of Parabola

Reflecting the graph in this figure about


the diagonal line y = x has the effect of
interchanging the roles of x and y.

• This results in
a parabola with
horizontal axis.
• By the same method
as before, we can
prove the following
properties.
Parabola with Horizontal Axis

The graph of the equation


y2 = 4px
is a parabola with these properties.

Vertex V(0, 0)

Focus F(p, 0)

Directrix x = –p
Parabola with Horizontal Axis

The parabola opens:


• To the right if p > 0.
• To the left if p < 0.
E.g. 3—Parabola with Horizontal Axis

A parabola has the equation


6x + y2 = 0

(a) Find the focus and directrix of the parabola,


and sketch the graph.

(b) Use a graphing calculator to draw the graph.


E.g. 3—Parabola with Horiz. Axis Example (a)

We put the given equation


in the standard form y2 = –6x.

• Comparing this to the general equation


y2 = 4px, we see that 4p = –6; so, p = (–3/2).

• The focus is F(–3/2, 0) and the directrix


is x = 3/2.
E.g. 3—Parabola with Horiz. Axis Example (a)

Since p < 0, the parabola opens


to the left.
E.g. 3—Parabola with Horiz. Axis Example (b)

To draw the graph using a graphing


calculator, we need to solve for y.

6x + y2 = 0
y2 = –6x
y   6 x
E.g. 3—Parabola with Horiz. Axis Example (b)

To obtain the graph of the parabola,


we graph both functions.
Note

The equation y2 = 4px does not define


y as a function of x.

• So, to use a graphing calculator to graph


a parabola with horizontal axis, we must first
solve for y.
• This leads to two functions
y  4 px and y   4 px
• We need to graph both y  6 x and y   6 x
to get the complete graph of the parabola.
Width of Parabola

We can use the coordinates of the focus


to estimate the “width” of a parabola when
sketching its graph.

• The line segment that runs through the focus


perpendicular to the axis—with endpoints on
the parabola—is called the latus rectum.

• Its length is the focal diameter of the parabola.


Width of Parabola

From the figure, we can see that the distance


from an endpoint Q of the latus rectum to
the directrix is | 2p |.

• So, the distance from Q


to the focus must be | 2p |
as well (by the definition
of a parabola).
• Hence, the focal diameter
is | 4p |.
Width of Parabola

In the next example, we use the focal


diameter to determine the “width”
of a parabola when graphing it.
E.g. 4—Focal Diameter of a Parabola

Find the focus, directrix, and focal


diameter of the parabola y = ½x2,
and sketch its graph.

• We put the equation in the form x2 = 4py.


y = ½x2
x2 = 2y
• We see that 4p = 2.
• So, the focal diameter is 2.
E.g. 4—Focal Diameter of a Parabola

Solving for p gives p = ½.

• So, the focus is (0, ½) and the directrix


is y = –½ .

Since the focal diameter is 2, the latus rectum


extends 1 unit to the left and 1 unit to the right

of the focus.
E.g. 4—Focal Diameter of a Parabola

Here’s the graph.


Family of Parabolas

In the next example, we graph a family


of parabolas—to show how changing
the distance between the focus and
the vertex affects the “width” of a parabola.
E.g. 5—Family of Parabolas

(a) Find equations for the parabolas


with vertex at the origin and foci
F1  0, 1
8  , F2  0, 1
2  , F3  0, 1 , F4 (0, 4)

(b) Draw the graphs of the parabolas in (a).

• What do you conclude?


E.g. 5—Family of Parabolas Example (a)

Since the foci are on the positive y-axis,


the parabolas open upward and have
equations of the form x2 = 4py.

• This leads to the following equations.


E.g. 5—Family of Parabolas Example (b)

We see that
the closer
the focus to
the vertex,
the narrower
the parabola.
Applications
Applications

Parabolas have an important property


that makes them useful as reflectors
for lamps and telescopes.
Applications

Light from a source placed at the focus of


a surface with parabolic cross section will be
reflected in such a way that it travels parallel
to the axis of the parabola.

• Thus, a parabolic mirror


reflects the light into
a beam of parallel rays.
Reflection Property

Conversely, light approaching the reflector


in rays parallel to its axis of symmetry is
concentrated to the focus.

• This reflection property—which can


be proved using calculus—is used in
the construction of reflecting telescopes.
E.g. 6—Focal Point of a Searchlight Reflector

A searchlight has
a parabolic reflector
that forms a “bowl,”
12 in. wide from rim
to rim and 8 in. deep.

• If the filament of the light bulb is located


at the focus, how far from the vertex
of the reflector is it?
E.g. 6—Focal Point of a Searchlight Reflector

We introduce a coordinate system and


place a parabolic cross section of the reflector
so that:
• Its vertex is at the origin.
• Its axis is vertical.
E.g. 6—Focal Point of a Searchlight Reflector

Then, the equation of this parabola has


the form x2 = 4py.

• We see that
the point (6, 8) lies on
the parabola.

• We use this to find p.


E.g. 6—Focal Point of a Searchlight Reflector

62 = 4p(8)
36 = 32p
p = (9/8)

• The focus is F(0, (9/8)).


• So, the distance between the vertex
and the focus is 98  1 81 in.
• Since the filament is positioned at the focus,
it is located 1 81 in. from the vertex of the reflector.

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