OBJECTIVES:

Define parabola
Determine the standard form of
equation of a parabola
 Parabolas Things you should already know about a
parabola.

Forms of equations
y = a(x – h)2 + k
opens up if a is positive
opens down if a is negative
vertex is (h, k)

y = ax2 + bx + c
opens up if a is positive
V
opens down if a is negative

vertex is

Thus far in this course we have studied parabolas that are vertical - that is, they open
up or down and the axis of symmetry is vertical
Definition of Parabola
A parabola is the set of all points in a plane
that are equidistant from a fixed line
(directrix) and a fixed point (focus) not on
the line.
Focus - the fixed
point of a parabola.
Directrix - the fixed
line of a parabola
Axis of Symmetry – The line that goes
through the focus and is perpendicular
to the directrix.
The midpoint between the focus and the
directrix is called the vertex

Vertex – the point of intersection of the

axis of symmetry and the parabola.
Latus Rectum – the line segment through
the focus and parallel to the directrix
 Consider the point F(0, 2) and the line l` having
equation y = -2,
What are the distances of A(4, 2) from F and from l `?
(The latter is taken as the distance of A from Al`, the point
on l` closest to A). AF=4 and AAl =4
How about the distances of B(-8, 8) from F and from l `
(from Bl`)?
BF   8  0   8  2 
2 2
and BBl =10
 10
There are other points P such that PF =PPl` (where Pl` is the
closest point on line l`). The collection of all such points forms
a shape called a parabola.

Let F be a given point, and l` a given line not containing F.

The set of all points P such that its distances from F and
from ` are the same, is called a parabola. The point F is its
focus and the line ` l` its directrix.
Consider a parabola with focus F(0, c) and directrix l` having
equation y = -c. The focus and directrix are c units above and
below, respectively, the origin.
Let P(x, y) be a point on the parabola so PF = PPl`, where
Pl` is the point on l` ` closest to P. The point P has to be on
the same side of the directrix as the focus (if P was below, it
would be closer to l ` than it is from F)
PF=PPl F(0,c) and P(x,y)
PF  x2  x1    y2  y2 
2 2
PPl =y- c
PF=PPl
x  0    y  c 
2 2
 y  ( c )
x  y  c  y  c
2 2

2
 x 2   y  c 2    y  c 2
 
2 2 2 2 2
x  y  2cy  c  y  2cy  c 2
x  4cy
The vertex V is the point midway between the
focus and directrix.
Therefore x2 =4cy is the standard equation of
a parabola opening upward with vertex (0,0)
 Suppose the focus is F(0, -c) and the
directrix is y = c

In this case, a point P on the resulting

parabola would be below the directrix
The graph will open downward

PF  x   y  c  PPl =c-y
2 2
 PF=PPl F(0,-c) and P(x,y) PPl =c-y

x  0    y  (  c ) 
2 2
c y 2
x  4cy
x  y  c  c  y
2 2

2
 x 2   y  c    c  y 2
2
 
2 2 2 2 2
x  y  2cy  c  c  2cy  y
.
Therefore x2 =-4cy is the standard equation of
a parabola opening downward with vertex (0,0)
Features of the graph of a parabola with standard
equationx2 =4cy and x2 =-4cy where c>0

(1) vertex : origin V (0, 0)

• If the parabola opens upward, the vertex is the
lowest point. If the parabola opens downward,
the vertex is the highest point.
(2) directrix : the line y = -c or y = c
• The directrix is c units below or above the vertex.
Features of the graph of a parabola with standard
equationx2 =4cy and x2 =-4cy where c>0

(3) focus: F(0, c) or F(0, -c)

• The focus is c units above or below the vertex.
• Any point on the parabola has the same distance
from the focus as it has from the directrix.
(4) axis of symmetry: x = 0 (the y-axis)
• This line divides the parabola into two parts
which are mirror images of each other.
EXAMPLE

Determine the focus and directrix of the

parabola with the given equation. Sketch the
graph, and indicate the focus, directrix,
vertex, and the axis of symmetry

(1.) x2 = 12y
(2.) x = -6y
2
 Solution (1.) x2 = 12y x2 =4cy

oThe vertex is V (0, 0) and the parabola

opens upward
o From 4c = 12,
c = 3.
oThe focus, c = 3 units above the vertex, is
F(0, 3)
The directrix, 3 units below the vertex, is
y =- 3.
oThe axis of symmetry is x = 0.
Graph
 Solution (2.) x2 = -6y x2 =-4cy

oThe vertex is V (0, 0) and the parabola

opens downward
o. From -4c = -6,
c = 3/2.
oThe focus, c = -3/2 units below the vertex,
is F(0, -3/2)
oThe directrix, 3/2 units above the vertex,
is y = 3/2.
oThe axis of symmetry is x = 0.
Graph
 Equations and Graphs of Parabolas with V(0,0)
Equation Vertex Focus Directrix Description
x2 =4cy (0,0) (0,c) y=-c

x2 =- -4cy (0,0) (0,-c) y=c

D:y= c
F=(0,c)

D:y= -c
F=(0,-c)

a.) x2 =4cy b.) x2 =-4cy

EXERCISE
S
1. What is the standard equation of
the parabola in the figure below?
Solution The form of
the equation is x2 =4cy
c=2
Equation: x2 =4(2)y
x2 =8y
2. Give the focus and directrix of the
parabola with equation x2 =10y.
Sketch the graph, and indicate the focus,
directrix, vertex, and axis of symmetry.
 Solution

5 5
focus (0, ) directrix y
2 2
3. Find the standard equation
of the parabola with focus
F(0, -3.5) and directrix y = 3.5.
Answer:
x = -14y
2
4.) Find the vertex, focus, directrix and
the latus rectum for the equation

2
x  16 y
Find the vertex, focus, directrix and the latus rectum for the given
equation


 Equations and Graphs of Parabolas with V (0,0)
Equation Vertex Focus Directrix Description
y2 = 4cx (0,0) (c,0) x=-c

y2 = -4cx (0,0) (-c,0) x=c

D:x= -c
D:x= c

F=(-c,0)

F=(c,0)

c.) y2 =4cx d.)

y2 =-4cx
 More Properties of
Parabolas
The parabolas we considered so far are “vertical” and have their
vertices at the origin.
Some parabolas open instead horizontally (to the left or right),
and some have vertices not at the origin. .

In all four cases below, we assume that c > 0.

The vertex is V (h, k), and it lies between the focus F and the
directrix `.
The focus F is c units away from the vertex V ,
and the directrix is c units away from the vertex.
Recall that,
for any point on the parabola, its distance from the focus is the
same as its distance from the directrix
Directrix l: horizontal
Axis of symmetry: x=h, vertical
 Equations and Graphs of Parabolas
Equation Vertex Focus Directrix Description
(x-h)2 =4c(y-k) (h, k) (h, k+c) y=k-c

(x-h)2 =-4c(y-k) (h, k) (h, k-c) y=k+c

F=(h,k+c)
D:y= k+c

D:y= k-c
F=(h,k-c)
a.) b.)
(x-h)2 =4c(y-k) (x-h)2 =-4c(y-k)
Directrix l: vertical
Axis of symmetry: y=k, horizontal
 Equations and Graphs of Parabolas
Equation Vertex Focus Directrix Description
(y-k)2 =4c(x-h) (h, k) (h+c, k) x=h-c

(y-k)2 =-4c(x-h) (h, k) (h-c, k) x=h+c

D:x= h-c D:x= h+c

F=(h+c,k) F=(h-c,k)

c.) d.) (y-k)2 =-4c(x-h)

(y-k)2 =4c(x-h)
The following observations are worth
noting.
The equations are in terms of x- h and y- k: the
vertex coordinates are subtracted from the
corresponding variable. Thus, replacing both h and
k with 0 would yield the case where the vertex is
the origin. For instance, this replacement applied
to (x-h)2 = 4c(y-k) (parabola opening upward)
would yield x2 = 4cy, the first standard equation we
encountered (parabola opening upward, vertex at
the origin).
The following observations are worth
noting.
 If the x-part is squared, the parabola is
“vertical”; if the y-part is squared, the parabola is
“horizontal.” In a horizontal parabola, the focus is
on the left or right of the vertex, and the directrix is
vertical.
 If the coefficient of the linear (non-squared) part
is positive, the parabola opens upward or to the
right; if negative, downward or to the left.
Example
The figure shows the graph of a parabola, with
only its focus and vertex indicated. Find its
standard equation. What is the directrix and its
axis of symmetry?
Solution
o Vertex : V (5,- 4)
o Focus : F(3, -4).
o h = 5, k = -4,
o c = 2 (the distance of the focus from the vertex).
o Since the parabola opens to the left, we use the
form (y-k)2= -4c(x-h)
o The equation is (y+4)2= -8(x-5)
oIts directrix is c = 2 units to the right of V , which
is x = 7.
oIts axis is the horizontal line through V : y = -4.
standard equation:
(y + 4)2 = -8(x- 5)
Transform to its general form.
(y + 4)2 = -8(x- 5)
y2 +8y+16=-8x+ 40
y2 +8y+8x-24=0
General Forms of Equation of a Parabola
Ax2 +Cx+ Dy +E =0 (A and C are nonzero) or
By 2+Cx+Dy+E =0(B and C are nonzero
Example

Determine the vertex, focus,

directrix, and axis of symmetry of
the parabola with the given
equation. Sketch the parabola,
and include these points and lines.
(a)y2 -5x + 12y = -16
(b) 5x2 + 30x + 24y = 51
 (a) y2 -5x + 12y = -16
Solution.
(1) We complete the square on y, and move x
to the other side.
y2 -5x + 12y = -16
y2 + 12y = 5x-16
y2 + 12y +36=5x-16+36
(y+6)2 =5x+20 y 2  5x

(y+6)2 =5(x+4)
 (y+6)2 =5(x+4) (y-k)2= 4c(x-h)
oThe parabola opens to the right
oV (-4, -6)
oFrom 4c = 5,
oc=5/4 =1.25
oThe focus is c = 1.25 units to the right of V
o F(-2.75, -6).
oThe (vertical) directrix is c = 1.25 units to the left of V
od: x = -5.25.
oThe (horizontal) axis is through V : y = -6.
Graph
 b.) 5x2 + 30x + 24y = 51
We complete the square on x, and move y to the other side.
5x2 + 30x + 24y = 51
5x2 + 30x = -24y+51
5(x2 + 6x +9)=-24y+51+ 5(9)
5(x+3)2 = -24y+51+45
5(x+3)2 = -24y+96
5(x+3)2 = -24(y-4)

5( x  3) 2  24( y  4)

5 5
24
2
( x  3)    y  4) 
5
 24
2
( x  3)    y  4)  (x-h)2 =-4c(y-k)
5
oThe parabola opens downward.
oV (-3, 4).
oFrom -4c = -24 /5
o c = 6/ 5 = 1.2
o The focus is c = 1.2 units below V :
oF(-3, 2.8).
oThe (horizontal) directrix is c = 1.2 units above V :
o d: y = 5.2.
oThe (vertical) axis is through V : x=-3
Graph
EXERCISES
 Vertex at the Origin
1.)Find the standard equation of the parabola with
vertex at the origin and
focus (2,0)
Solution: The axis of the parabola is
horizontal passing through the origin
(0,0) and (2,0).

The standard form is y2 = 4cx,

where h=0,k=0
and c=2
So the equation is y2 = 4(2)x
y2 = 8x
 2. (y + 3)2 = 4(x + 1)
Find the vertex, focus and directrix. Then sketch the graph of the
parabola
The y-term is being squared.
(–1, –3)
Vertex: __________ Why? y The 4 is positive.
horizontal
The parabola is ________________
right
and opens to the ________.

Find c. 4c = 4
x
c=1

F
(0, –3)
Focus: ___________

x = –2
Directrix:___________
 Finding the focus of a Parabola
3. Find the focus of the parabola
given by
1 2 1
y  x x
2 2

To find the focus, convert to standard form by

completing the square.
 1 2 1
y  x x Write the original equation
2 2
1 2 1
 2[ y   x  x  ] Multiply each side by -2
2 2
2
 2 y  x  2x 1
2
1 2 y  x  2x Add 1 to each side

2
11 2 y  x  2x 1 Complete the square

2
2  2 y  x  2x 1 Combine like terms

2(1  y )  x  1
2
Standard form
 Compare the equation

2(1  y )  x  1
2 x  h  2
 4c ( y  k )

x  1 2
 2(1  y ) x  1 2
 2( y  1)

h= -1 4c  2
k=1 4c  2

1 4 4
c 1
2 c
2
So the focus of the parabola is
(h,k+c)= (-1, ½)
 Finding the Standard Equation
of a Parabola

4.)Find the standard form of the equation of the

parabola with vertex (2,1)and focus (2,4). Then write
the quadratic form of the equation.
Solution:
Because the axis of the parabola is vertical, passing through
(2,1) and (2,4) consider the equation
(x-h)2 =4p(y-k) where h=2, k=1, and p=4-1=3
so the standard form is

(x-2)2 =12(y-1)
You can obtain the more common quadratic form as follows

(x-2)2 =12(y-1) Write the original equation

x2 -4x+4=12y-12 Multiply
x2 -4x+4+12=12y-12+12 Add 12 to each side
x2 -4x+16=12y
1 2
12

x  4 x  16  y  Divide each side by 12

1 2
quadratic form y
12

x  4 x  16 
The graph of the parabola