THE

PARABOLA
 A parabola is the collection of all points P in the plane that
are the same distance from a fixed point F as they are from
a fixed line D. The point F is called the focus of the
parabola, and the line D is its directrix. As a result, a
parabola is the set of points P for which d(F, P) = d(P, D)
Let's sort out this definition by looking at a graph:
Take a line segment
perpendicular to the
directrix directrix and intersect
with a line segment
focus from the focus of the
same length. This will
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
be a point on the
by symmetry we parabola and will be
can get the other the same distance
half from each.
Based on this definition and using the distance formula
we can get a formula for the equation of a parabola with
a vertex at the origin that opens left or right (see page
771 in book for derivation).
If the coefficient
If the coefficient 2
on x is positive the y  4 ax on x is negative the
parabola opens to
parabola opens to
the left
the right
a is the distance from the vertex to the focus
(or opposite way for directrix)
The equation for the parabola
shown is: 2
a a
y 43x 12 x
-7 - -5 -4 - - -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The parabola opens to the
6 3 2
right and the vertex is 3
away from the focus.
 Let's find the focus and directrix of the parabola:
2
2
y  4ax y  16 x  4a  16
This is 4a a 4
Since the coefficient is negative, this parabola opens to the
left. From the vertex count 4 in the negative direction to
get the focus.
The directrix
x=4 is a line
located the
focus a =4 a =4 same
distance
(-4, 0) from the
vertex in the
other
direction.
 We could make a line segment through the focus of the
parabola parallel to the directrix with endpoints on the
parabola. This segment is called the latus rectum.
The length of the latus rectum is 4a.

This is very helpful information when graphing a parabola

because we then know how wide the parabola is.

2
(-4, 8) y  16 x
latus x=4
rectum a a The length of the
focus
latus rectum is 16
4a
so it is 8 each way
(-4, 0) from the focus.

(-4, -8)
 In college algebra you graphed parabolas that opened
up or down. The only difference with the equation is
the x and the y are in different places.
2 2
x 4ay x  4ay
2
Let's look at the steps to graph the parabola. x  4 y
What the
Draw direction
parabola
Whatthis
does is a?
containing open?
these
points. The directrix
If the
The ofis
x is squared
length thea
y=1 away
it opens
latus from
rectum upthe
or
is 4.
vertex inline
downa(depending
Make the
opposite
on the sign
segment direction
4 of the
units
as the(2focus.
coefficient).
long each way)If the
(-2, -1) (0, -1) (2, -1) y is squared it is
through the focus.
right or left.
What the length of
the latus rectum? - 4 = - 4a so a = 1.
Our parabola may have horizontal and/or vertical
transformations. This would translate the vertex from the
origin to some other place. The equations for these
parabolas are the same but h is the horizontal shift and k
the vertical shift: The vertex will be at (h, k)

x  h 2 4ay  k  opens down

opens up x  h 2  4ay  k 

opens left
opens right
y  k 
2
4ax  h  y  k 2  4ax  h 
Let's try one: y  2 2
8x  1 Vertex?
It is shifted to the left
Opens? y is squared and 8
one and up 2
is positive so right.
(set (x + 1) = 0 and get
Focus? 4a = 8 so a = 2. Focus is 2 x = -1 and set
away from vertex in (y - 2) = 0 and get
direction parabola opens. y = 2).
Vertex is (-1, 2)
(1, 6)
Length of latus rectum?
x = -3
This is number in front of
parenthesis which is 8, so 4
(-1, 2) (1, 2)
each way from focus.
Directrix?
(1, -2) "a" away from the vertex
so 2 away in opposite
direction of focus.
 The secret to doing these is NOT to memorize a bunch
of formulas given in your book in Tables 1 and 2, but to
DRAW A PICTURE.
What if we were given the focus of a parabola was (-2, 2)
and the vertex was (-5, 2). If we draw a picture we can
figure out the equation and anything else we need to
know.
Just looking at this much
Focus is "a" away from graphed can you determine
vertex so a = 3 which way the parabola opens
3 (and therefore what the standard
form of the equation looks like)
(-5, 2) (-2, 2)
The focus must be inside
the parabola so it must
open to the right.

yyyy22k244(412
simplified:
2 222
3aa)xx(5h(55))
The equation we are given may not be in standard form
and we'll have to do some algebraic manipulation to get it
that way. (you did this with circles in college algebra).
2 Since y is squared, we'll
y  2 y  x 0 complete the square on the y's
and get the x term to other side.
factor
2
y  2 y  ___
1  x  ___
1
must add to this side too to keep equation =
middle coefficient divided by 2 and squared

Now we have it in standard form

y  1 x  1
2
we can find the vertex, focus,
directrix and graph.
y  1 1x  1
2
Opens? Right (y squared & no negative)

opposites of these values

Vertex? Focus? 4a = 1 so a = 1/4

Length of latus rectum? 1, so 1/2 each way

Since the focus was at (-3/4, 1),
x = -5/4 to get the ends of the latus
rectum, we'd need to increase
the y value of the focus by 1/2
(-3/4, -1/2)
and then decrease the y value
(-3/4, -1) by 1/2. (look at the picture to
(-1, -1) determine this).
(-3/4, -3/2) Directrix? 1/4 away from vertex
There are many applications that involve parabolas.
One is paraboloids of revolution. This is taking a
parabola and revolving it to form "a dish".

The waves come in and hit the

surface and are reflected to the
focus of the parabola.

The receiver is
placed at the focus.

To work these problems, draw a picture with the

vertex at the origin.