PRECALCULUS FORMULAS

CONIC COEFFICIENTS EXAMPLE

CIRCLE A=C 3x + 3y2 + 6x = 6y – 4 = 0
2

PARABOLA A = 0 or C = 0 4y2 – 2x + 8y + 10 = 0
ELLIPSE A and C have the same sign X2 + 3y2 – 4x + 6y – 13 = 0
HYPERBOLA A and C have opposite sign 5x2 – 4y2 – 10x + 16y – 25 = 0

CIRCLE
Standard Equation of the Circle
Center at C(0,0) x2 +y2 = 0
Center at C(h,k) (x – h)2 – (y – k)2 = 0

General Equation of the Circle: (x2 + y2 + Dx+ Ey + F = 0)

Center Radius
−b
h= 2
−E
k= 2 r = √ h2 +k 2 −F

PARABOLA (Ax2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0) Note: Latus Rectum = 4a

Standard Form Vertex A.O.S Focus Directrix Description
2
(y – k) = 4p (x – h) (h, k) x=h (h + p, k) x = h – p If p > 0, opens to the right
2
(y – k) = -4p (x – h) (h, k) x=h (h – p, k) x = h + p If p < 0, opens to the left
2
(x –h) = 4p (y – k) (h, k) y=k (h, k + p) y = k – p If p > 0, opens upward
2
(x –h) = -4p (y – k) (h, k) y=k (h, k – p) y = k + p If p < 0, opens downward

ELLIPSE (Ax2+ Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0)

Standard Form Properties Orientation
2 2
(x−h) (h−k )
+ =1
C (h, k)
a2 b2 V1 (h – a, k); V2 (h + a, k)
CV1(h, k – b);CV2 (h, k + b)
F1 (h – c, k); F2 (h + c, k) Horizontal
Maj. Axis: 2a
Min. Axis: 2b
0<e<1
b2 + c2 = a2, a>b

(x−h)2 (h−k )2 C (h, k)

+ =1
b2 a2 V1 (h, k – a); V2 (h, k + a)
CV1(h – b, k);CV2 (h + b, k)
F1 (h, k - c); F2 (h, k + c) Vertical
Maj. Axis: 2a
Min. Axis: 2b
0<e<1
b2 + c2 = a2, a>b

HYPERBOLA CENTER AT THE ORIGIN

 Hyperbola Horizontal Vertical
Center at (0,0)
x2 y 2 y2 x2
− =1 − =1
Hyperbola Equation a2 b2 a2 b 2

Hyperbola Direction Left – Right (Horizontal) Up – Down (Vertical)

Vertices (a) V1 (-a, 0) V1 (0, -a)
V2 (a, 0) V2 (0, a)
Conjugate Axis (b) CA1 (0, -b) CA1 (-b, 0)
CA2 (0, b) CA2 (b, 0)
Foci F1 (-c, 0) F1 (0, -c)
F2 (c, 0) F2 (0, c)
Transverse Axis 2a 2a
Asymptotes Line b a
y−k=± x y−k=± x
a b

HYPERBOLA CENTER AT C(h, k)

Hyperbola Horizontal Vertical
Center at (h, k)

Hyperbola Equation (x−h)2 (h−k )2 ( y−k )2 (x −h)2

− =1 − =1
a2 b2 a2 b2

Hyperbola Direction Left – Right (Horizontal) Up – Down (Vertical)

Vertices (a) V1 (h – a, k) V1 (h, k – a)
V2 (h + a, k) V2 (h, k + a)
Conjugate Axis (b) CA1 (h, k – b) CA1 (h – b, k)
CA2 (h, k + b) CA2 (h + b, k)
Foci F1 (h – c, k) F1 (h, k – c)
F2 (h + c, k) F2 (h, k + c)
Transverse Axis 2a 2a
Asymptotes Line b a
y−k=± ( x−h) y−k=± ( x−h)
a b
When to Use Variable x is added Variable x is subtracted

Pythagorean Theorem Eccentricity

0<e<1
c c 2 = a2 + b2
a a2 +b2
e= = √
c
a a
b