Algebra 2

Unit 5 Lesson 3
 Unit 5 -
Quadratic Relations,
Equations & Inequalities

Lesson 3 - Writing Parabola

Equations
TEKS Standards

2A.4B Write the equation of a parabola using given attributes,

including vertex, focus, directrix, axis of symmetry, and
direction of opening.

2A.4D Transform a quadratic function f(x) = ax2 + bx + c to the

form f(x) = a(x-h)2 + k to identify the different attributes of f(x).
Essential Questions

▶ What are the attributes of a parabola?

Objectives
▶ I can find the attributes of a parabola.
▶ I can change standard form to vertex form for
quadratics.
Table of Contents

Day 1: Finding the equation using focus & directrix

Day 2: Converting standard form to vertex form
Day 1: Finding the parabola
equation using focus & directrix
Warm-Up: TEKS 2A.4E

What kind of equation would best fit the scatter plot?

A. Linear

B. Quadratic

C. Cubic

D. Exponential
Warm-Up: TEKS 2A.4E

What kind of equation would best fit the scatter plot?

A. Linear

B. Quadratic

C. Cubic

D. Exponential
 Vocabulary
Axis of Symmetry - a line that divides a parabola into two
halves
Completing the square - the process of taking a quadratic
equation from standard form to vertex form
Directrix - horizontal or vertical line not passing through the
focus whose distance from the vertex is |p| and is
perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.
Focus - point not on the directrix whose distance from the
vertex is |p| and lies on the axis of symmetry
Vertex - the point where the minimum or maximum value of
the function occurs. The axis of symmetry also passes through
this point.
 Vocabulary
Locus of points - set of all points satisfying a condition (for
example, being equally distant from another point or set of
points)
Maximum - the largest value that a function can obtain
Minimum - the smallest value that a function can obtain
|p| - distance from vertex to directrix OR distance from vertex
to focus
Parabola - the locus of points, P, such that the distance from P
to a point F (the focus) is equal to the distance from P to a line
q (the directrix)
Standard form of a quadratic equation f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
Vertex form of a quadratic equation f(x) = a(x-h)2 + k
Definition of a Parabola
The definition of a parabola is
the collection of points (locus
of points) equidistant from a
point called the focus and a
line called the directrix.
 Vertical Up/Down Parabolas
Graphing a Parabola

Focus

Sideways Left/Right Parabolas

Vertex

Directrix
Example 1
The receptor point in a satellite is placed at the focus so that it can
absorb all the signals being reflected from the dish. Where should
the receptor be located on a satellite dish that is four feet wide and
nine inches deep ?

Choose to make the vertex (0,0). Measure everything in inches.

Then two other points will be (24,9) and (-24,9). Plug (0,0) as (h,k)
and (24,9) as (x,y) and solve for p.
48 inches across (24,9
)
9 inches deep

(0,0)
Example 1

The receptor should be 16 inches above the vertex of

the parabolic dish.
Example 2
Find the equation of a parabola with a vertex at (1,3) and a focus at
(1,7). Then graph it.

Vertex: (1,3)
(1,3) = (h,k) Focus: (1,7)
(1,7) = (h,k+p) Directrix: y = -1
Axis of Symmetry: x = 1
p=4 Vertical parabola opening up
Example 2
Example 3
Find the equation of a parabola with a focus at (0,3) and a directrix line y=2.
Identify the vertex and axis of symmetry.Then graph it.

(0,3) → (h,k+p)
y=2→y=k-p

3=k+p
2=k-p
5 = 2k
2.5 = k
p = 0.5
Vertex: (0,2.5)
Axis of Symmetry: x = 0
Vertical parabola opening up
Example 4
Find the equation of the parabola with directrix line x = 2 and vertex (1,1).

Sideways parabola with vertical directrix.

(1,1) → (h,k)
x=2→x=h-p

2=1-p
-1 = p

Horizontal parabola open to left

Vertex: (1,1)
Focus: (0,1)
Directrix: x = 2
Axis of Symmetry: y = 1
Example 5
Find the equation of the parabola that opens to the right with vertex (3,5)
and a focal width of 12.

Sideways parabola opening right

with vertical directrix.
(3,5) → (h,k)
4p = 12
p=3

Focus: (6,5)
Axis of Symmetry: y = 5
Directrix x = 0
Guided Practice 1
A cell phone company is designing a new satellite dish for launching into
orbit. Where should the receptor be located on a dish that is 100 feet wide
and 20 feet deep?

Make vertex (0,0) = (h,k)

Substitute (50,20) for (x,y) and solve for p.

100 feet wide (50,20)

The receptor should
20 ft deep be placed at the
focus, 31.25 feet
above the vertex.
(0,0)
Guided Practice 2
Find the equation of a parabola with a vertex at (-2,1) and a focus at
(-2,-2). Then graph it. Vertical Parabola pointing down
Vertex: (-2,1)
Focus: (-2,-2)
(-2,1) = (h,k) Directrix: y = 4
(-2,-2) = (h,k+p) Axis of Symmetry: x = -2

p = -3
Guided Practice 3
Find the equation of a parabola with a focus at (1,-2) and a directrix line y = 8.
Identify the vertex and axis of symmetry. Then graph it.

(1,-2) → (h,k+p)
y=8→y=k-p

-2 = k + p
8=k-p
-10 = 2p
-5 = p

Vertex: (1,3)
Axis of Symmetry: x = 1
Vertical parabola opening down
Guided Practice 4
Find the equation of the parabola with directrix line x = -1 and vertex (5,-1).

Sideways parabola with vertical directrix.

(5,-1) → (h,k)
x = -1 → x = h - p

-1 = 5 - p
6=p

Horizontal parabola open to right

Vertex: (5,-1)
Focus: (11,1)
Directrix: x = -1
Axis of Symmetry: y = -1
Day 2: Converting standard form
to vertex form
Example 6
Find the equation of the parabola by putting it into vertex form, then identify
its vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry and graph it.

First Step: Place variables on separate sides of equations.

Second Step: Complete the square for the variable with a squared term.
Make sure a = 1, then add (b/2)2 to both sides.

Third Step: Write the perfect square trinomial as the squared binomial and
simplify.
Example 6
Find the equation of the parabola by putting it into vertex form, then identify
its vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry and graph it.

Sideways parabola open to the right

Vertex is (4,-1)
Focus is (6,-1)
Directrix is x = 2
Axis of symmetry is y = -1
 Example 7
Find the equation of the parabola by putting it into vertex form, then identify
its vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry and graph it.

First Step: Place variables on separate sides of equations.

Second Step: Complete the square for the variable with a squared term.
Make sure a=1, then add (b/2)2 to both sides.

Third Step: Write the perfect square trinomial as the squared binomial.

Vertex: (-3,3)
Focus: (-3,4)
Directrix: y = 2
Axis of symmetry: x = -3
Vertical parabola opening upward
Example 8
Find the equation of the parabola by putting it into vertex form, then identify
its vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry and graph it.

Vertex: (-2,0)
Focus: (-2,⅛ )
Directrix: y = -⅛
Axis of symmetry: x = -2
Vertical parabola opening upward
Example 9
Find the equation of the parabola by putting it into vertex form, then identify
its vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry and graph it.

Vertex: (1,-4)
Focus: (-3,-4 )
Directrix: x = 5
Axis of symmetry: y = -4
Horizontal parabola opening left
 Guided practice 5
Find the equation of the parabola by putting it into vertex form, then identify
its vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry and graph it.

Vertex: (-3,-2)
Focus: (-3,1 )
Directrix: y = -5
Axis of symmetry: x = -3
Vertical parabola opening upward
 Guided practice 6
Find the equation of the parabola by putting it into vertex form, then identify
its vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry and graph it.

Vertex: (5,-7)
Focus: (5.5,-7)
Directrix: x = 4.5
Axis of symmetry: y = -7
Horizontal parabola opening right
 TEKS 2A.4B
Exit Ticket

Identify the focus for the given parabola.

A. (2,3)

B. (2, 8)

C. (-2, 8)

D. (-2, 3)
 TEKS 2A.4B
Exit Ticket

Identify the focus for the given parabola.

A. (2,3) Vertex: (-2,3)

p=5
B. (2, 8) Vertical parabola opening upward

C. (-2, 8)

D. (-2, 3)
 Sources
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bola

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