Conic Section: Parabola

What is Parabola?
 A parabola is a set of all coplanar points that are equidistant from a fixed
line and a fixed point not on the fixed line.

Directrix (d) – the fixed line d corresponding

to the focus
Focus (F) – the fixed point of the conic
Axis of symmetry
 the line perpendicular to the directrix and
passing through the focus F.
Latus Rectum
 the chord that passes through the focus
and perpendicular to the axis of
symmetry.
Vertex
 the point on the parabola midway between the latus rectum and the directrix.
 is the point where the curve changes direction.

Parabola with Focus at (p,0)

Vertex: (0,0) Parabola with horizontal axis of symmetry

Equation 𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥

Focus (p,0)

Opening of If p<0, parabola opens to the left.

Parabola If p>0, parabola opens to the right
Latus Rectum Equation: x = ±p
Direction: Vertical
Length: 4p
Endpoints: (p, ±2p)
Axis of Symmetry Equation: y = k
Direction: Horizontal
Directrix Equation: x = -p
Drection: Vertical

p>0 p<0
Example 1: Find the coordinates of the focus and the equation of the directrix for
each parabola. Draw the parabola, its focus and directrix.

a) 𝑦 2 = 28𝑥

b) 𝑦 2 = −16𝑥

Solution:

a) 𝑦 2 = 28𝑥 Directrix: (x, 0)

x = −𝑝
Focus: (p,0)
x = −7
𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥 Diretrix: (−7,0)

28𝑥 = 4𝑝𝑥
Endpoints of Latus Rectum:
28𝑥 4𝑝𝑥
= (p, ±2p)
4𝑥 4𝑥

7=𝑝 (p,2p) (p,-2p)

𝑝=7 (7,2(7)) (7,-2(7))

Focus: (7,0) (7,14) (7,-14)

Endpoints of Latus Rectum:

(7,14);(7,-14)

Solution:
Directrix: (x, 0)
2
b) 𝑦 = −16𝑥 x = −𝑝
x = −(−4)
Focus: (p,0) 𝑥=4
Diretrix: (4,0)
𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥

−16𝑥 = 4𝑝𝑥 Endpoints of Latus Rectum:

−16𝑥 4𝑝𝑥 (p, ±2p)
=
4𝑥 4𝑥
(p,2p) (p,-2p)
−4 = 𝑝
(-4,2(-4)) (-4,-2(-4))
𝑝 = −4
(-4,-8) (-4,8)
Focus: (-4,0)
Endpoints of Latus Rectum:
(-4,-8);(-4,8)
Parabola with Focus at (0,p)

Vertex: (0,0) Parabola with horizontal axis of symmetry

Equation 𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦
Focus (0,p)

Opening of Parabola If p<0, parabola opens downward.

If p>0, parabola opens upward.
Latus Rectum Equation: y = ±p
Direction: Horizontal
Length: 4p
Endpoints: (±2p, p)
Axis of Symmetry Equation: x = h
Direction: Vertical
Directrix Equation: y = -p
Drection: Horizontal

p>0 p<0

Example 2: Find the coordinates of the focus and the equation of the directrix for
each parabola. Draw the parabola, its focus and directrix.

a) 𝑥 2 = −10𝑦

b) 𝑥 2 − 8𝑦 = 0

Solution

a) 𝑥 2 = −10𝑦

Focus: (0,p)

𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦

−10𝑦 = 4𝑝𝑦
−10𝑦 4𝑝𝑦
= Directrix: (0, y) Endpoints of Latus Rectum: (±2p, p)
4𝑦 4𝑦
𝑦 = −𝑝
−5 −5 (2p,p) (-2p, p)
=𝑝 y = −( )
2
2 (2((−5)/2), (−5)/2)
5
−5 y=
𝑝= 2 (-2((−5)/2), (−5)/2)
2 5
−5
Diretrix: (0, )
Focus: (0, ) 2 (-5, (−5)/2) (2, (−5)/2)
2
Endpoints of Latus Rectum:

(-5, (−5)/2); (5, (−5)/2)