Parabolas

Module in Precalculus 11
First Quarter

NOBLE MARISSA C. DOMINGO

Developer

Department of Education ● Cordillera Administrative Region

 Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Cordillera Administrative Region
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF APAYAO

Published by:
Learning Resource Management and Development System

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
2020

Section 9 of Presidential Decree No. 49 provides:

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However, prior approval of the government agency of office wherein the work is created
shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit.”

This material has been developed for the implementation of K-12 Curriculum through the
Curriculum Implementation Division (CID)—Learning Resource Management and
Development System (LRMDS). It can be reproduced for educational purposes and the
source must be acknowledged. Derivatives of the work including creating an edited
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work is acknowledged and the copyright is attributed. No work may be derived from this
material for commercial purposes and profit.

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 PREFACE

This module is a project of the Curriculum Implementation Division particularly

the Learning Resource Management and Development Unit, Department of
Education, Schools Division of CAR which is in response to the implementation of the
K to 12 Curriculum.

This Learning Material is a property of the Department of Education- CID,

Schools Division of Apayao CAR.

Date of Development : June, 2020

Resource Location : Apayao Science High School, SDO-Apayao CAR
Learning Area : PRECALCULUS
Grade Level : 11
Learning Resource Type : Module
Language : English
Quarter/Week : Q1/W2
Learning Competency/Code : Define a parabola/ STEM_PC11AG-Ia-5
Determine the standard form of the equation of a
parabola/STEM_PC11AG-Ib-1

iii
 ACNOWLEDGEMENT

The developers would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and sincere
appreciation to the following people who contributed a lot in materializing this
professional endeavor:

---

DIVISION LRMDS STAFF:

Bernadette Juan Christian Mark Julian

Librarian Project Development Officer

JULIET RAGOJOS
EPS-LRMDS

CONSULTANTS:

JOY D. SALENG
Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division

SAMUEL T. EGSAEN Jr., Ed D

Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

SALLY B. ULLALIM, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Copyright Notice …………………………………………………..……...…..…. ii
Preface …………………………………………………………………...…….… iii
Acknowledgement……………………………………………………. …….…... iv
Table of Contents……………………………………………………….……. … v
Title Page…………………………………………………………………………. 1
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 2
Learning Objectives
Pretest………………………………………………………………….…………. 3
Lesson Proper …………………………………………………………………… 4
Review…………………………………………………………………………. 4
Activity 1……………………………………….……………….…………. 5
Discussion of Activity 1……………………………………...…………… 5
Enrichment ……………………………………………………….…………… 8
Activity 1…………………………………………………………………… 8
Assessment 1 ……………………………………………………………. 8
Activity 2…………………………………………………………………… 9
Assessment 2 …………………………………………………………….. 9
Activity 3…………………………………………………………………… 10
Assessment 3 …………………………………………………………. 11
Generalization ………………………………………………………………….. 11

Application ……………………………………………………………….………. 11
Post-Assessment …………………...……………………………………………. 12
Additional Activities……………………………………………….……………… 13
Answer Key……………………………………………………………………….. 14
Reference Sheet…………………………………………………...…………….. 15

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 Parabolas
Module in Precalculus 11
First Quarter

NOBLE MARISSA C. DOMINGO

Developer

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 What I need to know

To the facilitator:

In this part of the module, the learners need to activate their prior
knowledge; communicate their expectations as to what they want to know and
understand. Reading materials are provided in this module and as evidence of their
learning they need to finish in the activities. They will be answering questions
based on the lesson provided and at the end of the module; be provided with the
knowledge on how to define a parabola and how to determine the standard form of
the equation of a parabola. Assess this knowledge by answering the questions at
the end of this module. They should be informed of the assessment technique to be
used for their expected outputs. Accept all the answers of your students. However,
take note of those areas where you need to clarify during the process part. Make
sure that your learners are clarified on the expected outputs at the end of this
module.

To the learner:

This module is for an independent learner. Kindly follow the stages of this
module, do not skip any of the stages of the module unless it is stated in the
direction. The parts of this module are pre-assessment test, lesson proper,
generalization, application and post assessment.

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help
you familiarize how to define an ellipse and how to find the properties of the ellipse.
The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons
are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which
you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

 Define a parabola/STEM_PC11AG-Ia-5
 Determine the standard form of equation of a parabola/
STEM_PC11AG-Ib-1

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 What I Know

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on ¼ sheet of
paper.
1. What do you call the set of all points (x, y) in a plane whose distance
from a fixed point is equal to the distance from a fixed line?
1. ellipse C. circle
2. parabola D. hyperbola
2. What do you call a line segment perpendicular to the principal axis and
passing through the focus?
A. Latus rectum C. principal axis
B. directrix D. major axis
3. What do you call the halfway between the focus and the directrix?
A. endpoints C. center
B. vertex D. middle
4. What do you call a fixed line perpendicular to the principal axis?
A. latus rectum C. directrix
B. focus D. vertex
5. What do you call the turning point of a parabola?
A.  focus   C. vertex 
B. intercept D. endpoint 
6. What do you call a line through the focus and the vertex and
perpendicular to the directrix?
A. Major axis C. principal axis
B. Minor axis D. conjugate axis
7. What is the other term for the principal axis?
A. Axis of symmetry C. middle line
B. median D. midline
8. What is the relationship of the directrix and the principal axis?
A. parallel C. intersects
B. perpendicular D. coincides
9. What is the length of the latus rectum using a variable c as a distance
from the vertex to the focus?
A. 4c C. 2c
B. 3c D. ½(c)
10. What do you call the fixed point in the definition of the parabola?
A. vertex C. center
B. Focus D. midpoint
11. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its vertex
is at (0, 0) and it opens to the left?
A. y2 = - 4cx C. x2 = - 4cy

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 B. y2 = 4cx D. x2 = 4cy

12. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its vertex
is at (0, 0) and it opens upward?
A. x2 = -4cy C. y2 = - 4cx
B. x2 = 4cy D. y2 = 4cx

13. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its vertex
is at (0, 0) and it opens to the right?
A. y2 = -4cx C. y2 = 4cx
B. x2 = -4cy D. x2 = 4cy

14. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its

vertex is at (h, k) and it opens downward?
A. (y-k)2 = 4c(x-h) C. (y-k)2 = -4c(x-h)
B. (x-h)2 = 4c(y-k) D. (x-h)2 = -4c(y-k)

15. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its

vertex is at (h, k) and it opens to the right?
A. (x-h)2 = 4c(y-k) C. (y-k)2 = -4c(x-h)
B. (x-h)2 = -4c(y-k) D. (y-k)2 = 4c(x-h)

Lesson Definition and Equation

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 3 of a Parabola

What’s In

 A parabola is one of the conic sections. We have already seen

parabolas which open upward or downward, as graphs of quadratic
functions. Here, we will see parabolas opening to the left or right with
vertices at (0, 0) and (h, k).

quadraticequation.org

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 What’s New?

Answer the crossword puzzle below to have an idea about the parabola. Use
your Precalculus notebook.

Crossword Puzzle

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 What is It?

Definition of a Parabola

A parabola is the set of all points (x,y) in a plane whose distance from
a fixed point is equal to the distance from a fixed line. The fixed point
is called the focus and the fixed line is called directrix. The
properties are illustrated below.

More Properties of a Parabolas

1. The principal axis of the parabola is a line through the focus and
perpendicular to the directrix. It is also called the axis of symmetry.
2. The vertex is a point of intersection of the parabola and its principal
axis. It is also halfway between the focus and the directrix.
3. The latus rectum is a line segment through the focus connecting two
points on the parabola and perpendicular to the principal axis. It is also
called the focal width of the parabola. Its length is 4c units long.
4. The focus is a fixed point on the graph of a parabola
5. The directrix is the fixed line perpendicular to the principal axis.

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Standard Equation of a Parabola

Derivation of the Standard Equation of a Parabola

       Consider the figure below:

       In the figure, F is the focus of the parabola, A is a point in the parabola
and Al (where Al is the closest point to A) is a point in the directrix (line l).
Point F is at (0,1), point A is at (2,1) and point A l is at (2, -1). The distance
from A to F is the horizontal distance which is equal to 2 and the distance
from A to Al is the vertical distance which is equal to 2, therefor we can say
that the two distances are equal which is defined in the definition of a
parabola.

       In the figure above, consider a parabola with focus at (0,c) and directrix
l having equation y = -c. The focus and the directrix is c units above and

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below the origin respectively. Let P(x, y) be a point on the parabola so PF =
PPl, where Pl  is the point on line l closest to P. 

PF = PPl 
√ x +( y−c)2 = √ x 2−(−c)2
2

√ x 2+( y−c)2 = √ x 2+ c2
√ x 2+ y 2 −2 cy +c 2 = √ x 2+ c2
x 2+ y 2−2 cy +c 2 = x 2+ y 2
x2 = 4cy

       And finally, we derive one of the standard equations of a parabola. This

equation is true when the parabola has vertex (0,0) and it opens upward.

Standard Equations of a Parabola with Vertex (0,0)

       A. When the Principal axis is the x-axis

1.  y2 = 4cx - the equation of the parabola that opens to the right
2.  y2 = -4cx - the equation of the parabola that opens to the left

       B. When the Principal axis is the y-axis

1. x2 = 4cy - the equation of the parabola that opens upward

2. x2 = -4cy  - the equation of the parabola that opens downward

Examples of Parabola in their Standard Forms with Vertex (0,0)   

1. x2 = 12y - parabola opens upward; c = 3

2. y2 = 16x  - parabola opens to the right; c = 4
3. y2 = -12x  - parabola opens to the left; c = 3
4. x2 = -16y - parabola opens downward; c = 4
5. x2 = 20y - parabola opens upward; c = 5
6. x2 = -4y - parabola opens downward; c = 1
7. y2 = 4x  - parabola opens to the right; c = 1
8. y2 = -4x  - parabola opens to the left; c = 1
9. x2 = 4y - parabola opens upward; c = 1
10. y2 = 8x  - parabola opens to the right; c = 2

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Standard Equations of a Parabola with Vertex (h,k)

       A. When the Principal axis is parallel to the x-axis

1. (y-k)2 = 4c(x-h) - the equation of the parabola that opens to the

right

2. (y-k)2 = -4c(x-h) - the equation of the parabola that opens to the

left

       B. When the Principal axis is parallel to the y-axis

1. (x-h)2 = 4c(y-k) - the equation of the parabola that opens upward

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 2. (x-h)2 = -4c(y-k) - the equation of the parabola that opens
downward

Examples of Parabola in their Standard Forms with vertex (h,k)

1. (x-2)2 = 12(y-3) - parabola opens upward; c = 3 & V(2,3)

2. (y-2)2 = 16(x-3) - parabola opens to the right; c = 4 & V(3,2)
3. (x-2)2 = -12c(y-1) - parabola opens downward; c = 3 & V(2,1)
4. (y+4)2 = -16(x+3) - parabola opens to the left; c = 4 & V(-3,-4)
5.  (x+1)2 = 20(y+2) - parabola opens upward; c = 5 & V(-1,-2)
6.  (x+2)2 = 4(y+2) - parabola opens upward; c = 1 & V(-2,-2)
7.  (y+1)2 = -4(x-2) - parabola opens to the left; c = 1 & V(2, -1)
8.  (x+3)2 = -4(y-2) - parabola opens downward; c 1 & V(-3, 2)
9.  (y-5)2 = -4(x+2) - parabola opens to the left; c = 1 & V(-2, 5)
10. (x+2)2 = 8(y+3)   - parabola opens upward; c = 2 & V(-2, -3)

Note the following observations:

 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 at (0,0) or at 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).

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  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. 

What’s More?

Activity 1:
Direction. Identify the properties of the parabola given the illustration. Write
your answers in your Precalculus notebook.

Assessment 1
Direction. Write true if the statement is correct and write false if the
statement is wrong. Write your answers in your Precalculus notebook.

1. A parabola is the set of all points (x, y) in a plane whose distance from a
fixed point is equal to the distance from a fixed line.
2. The directrix is a line segment perpendicular to the principal axis.

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3. The vertex of a parabola is halfway between the focus and the directrix.
4. The latus rectum is a line segment whose endpoints are the focus and the
directrix.
5. The focus is the turning point of a parabola.
6. The principal axis is a line through the focus and the vertex and
perpendicular to the directrix.
7. The directrix is also called the axis of symmetry.
8. The directrix is a line parallel to the principal axis.
9. The latus rectum is a line segment through the focus whose endpoints are
on the parabola.
10. The focus is the fixed point of the parabola.

Activity 2
Direction: Match the given standard form of a parabola in column A with its
corresponding vertex in column B. Write your answers in your Precalculus
notebook.

Column A Column B
1. x2 = 100y  A. V (-8, -6)
2. y2 = 60x  B. V (-5, 10)
3. (x-2)2 = -10(y-5) C. V (0, 0)
4. (x+5)2 = 24(y-10) D V (2, 5)

5. (y+6)2 = 8(x+8) E. V (0, 0)

Assessment 2
Direction: Complete the table by filling-in the required equations,
numbers or points in the cell. Write your answers in your Precalculus
notebook.

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 General Equation of the Standard form vertex c opening
Parabola

1. x2 - 2y = 0

2. y2 – 8x = 0

3. y2 -5x + 12y + 16 = 0
4. 5x2 + 30x + 24y – 51 =
0

5. x2 – 6x + 5y + 34 = 0

Activity 3
Direction: Find the standard equation of the parabola given some of its properties.
Show your complete solution in your Precalculus notebook.
1. Focus at (3, 2) & vertex at (0, 2)
2. Vertex at (-1, -1) and directrix at y = 2.
3. Focus at (3, 2) & vertex at (6, 2)
4. Vertex at (2, 2) and directrix at x = -1.
5. Focus at (-3, 6) and vertex at (-3, 4)

Assessment 3
Direction: Find the standard equation of the parabola and fill-in the blanks of the
statements that follows in every equation. Write your complete solutions in your
Precalculus notebook.
1. Vertex at (0, 0) & focus at (0, -1)

The principal axis is along the __________________ and the opening of the parabola
is __________________.

2. Vertex at (0, 0) and the directrix at x = -2

The principal axis is along the __________________ and the focus is at

__________________.

3. Vertex at (-3, 2) & focus at (-3, 0)

The parabola opens on __________________ and the directrix at __________________.

4. Focus at (5, -4) and the directrix is at x = -1

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The parabola opens to the __________________ and the vertex is at
__________________.

5. Vertex at (2, -3) and focus at (-1, -3)

The parabola opens to the __________________ and the directrix is at

__________________.

What I Have Learned

Answer the following questions. Write your answers in your Precalculus notebook.

1. What is a parabola?

2. Enumerate some of the properties of a parabola and describe each.

3. Give the different standard forms of an ellipse.

What I Can Do?

Investigating the things around us!

The cable of a suspension bridge hangs in the shape of a parabola.
The towers supporting the cable are 400 ft apart and 150 ft high. If the
cable, at its lowest, is 30 ft above the bridge at its midpoint, how high is the
cable 50 ft away (horizontally) from either tower?

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 Post Assessment

Multiple Choice.
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on ¼ sheet of
paper.
1. What do you call the set of all points (x, y) in a plane whose distance from a
fixed point is equal to the distance from a fixed line?

1. parabola C. circle
2. ellipse D. hyperbola
2. What do you call a line segment perpendicular to the principal axis and passing
through the focus?
A. directrix C. principal axis
B. Latus rectum D. major axis
3. What do you call the halfway between the focus and the directrix?
A. endpoints C. vertex
B. center D. middle
4. What do you call a fixed line perpendicular to the principal axis?
1.latus rectum C. vertex
2.focus D. directrix
5. What do you call the turning point of a parabola?
A.  focus   C. vertex 
B. intercept D. endpoint 
6. What do you call a line through the focus and the vertex and
perpendicular to the directrix?
C. Major axis C. principal axis
D. Minor axis D. conjugate axis
7. What is the other term for the principal axis?
A. Axis of symmetry C. middle line
B. median D. midline
8. What is the relationship of the directrix and the principal axis?
A. parallel C. intersects
B. perpendicular D. coincides
9. What is the length of the latus rectum using a variable c as a distance
from the vertex to the focus?
A. 4c C. 2c
B. 3c D. ½(c)
10. What do you call the fixed point in the definition of the parabola?
A. vertex C. center
B. Focus D. midpoint

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11. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its vertex
is at (0, 0) and it opens to the left?
A. y2 = - 4cx C. x2 = - 4cy
B. y2 = 4cx D. x2 = 4cy

12. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its vertex
is at (0, 0) and it opens upward?
A. x2 = -4cy C. y2 = - 4cx
B. x2 = 4cy D. y2 = 4cx

13. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its vertex
is at (0, 0) and it opens to the right?
A. y2 = -4cx C. y2 = 4cx
B. x2 = -4cy D. x2 = 4cy

14. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its

vertex is at (h, k) and it opens downward?
A. (y-k)2 = -c(x-h) C. (y-k)2 = 4c(x-h)
B. (x-h)2 = -4c(y-k) D. (x-h)2 = 4c(y-k)

15. What is the standard form of the equation of a parabola if its

vertex is at (h, k) and it opens to the right?
A. (x-h)2 = 4c(y-k) C. (y-k)2 = -4c(x-h)
B. (x-h)2 = -4c(y-k) D. (y-k)2 = 4c(x-h)

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 Additional Activity

Direction. Rewrite the following equations in standard forms of a parabola and

identify its vertex. Write your answers including your solutions in your Precalculus
notebook.

General Form Standard Form vertex

1. x2 + 6y = 0

2. y2 – 16x = 0

3. 5x2 + 30x + 24y -51= 0

4. y2 - 5x + 12y + 16 = 0
5. y2 + 16x + 10y - 7 = 0

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 Answer Key

Pre-assessment 5. False 1. x2 = 12(y+1)

6. True
1. B 7. False 2. (x+1)2 = -12(y+5)
2. A 8. False
3. B 3. (y-2)2 = -12(x -6)
9. True
4. C
10. True 4. (y-2)2 = 12(x-2)
5. C
6. C
Activity 2 5. (x+3)2 = 8(y-4)
7. A
8. B Assessment 3
9. A
10. B Standard form vertex 1. x2 = - 4y
11. A y-axis
12. B 1. x2 = 2y (0, 0) downward
13. C 2. y2 = 8x
14. D 2. y2 = 8x (0, 0)
x-axis
15. C right
3. (y+6)2 = 5(x+4) (-4, -6)
3. (x+3)2 = -8(x-2)

What’s new? 4. (x+3)2 = -5(y+5)

c (-3, -5)
opening
4. (y+4)2 = 12(x-2)
5. (x+3)2 =1/2
(-24/5)(y-4) (-3, 4)
Upward 5. (y+3)2 = -12(x-2)
Post Assessment
2 Right
2. B
5/4 Right 1. A
2. B
5/4 downward 3. C
4. D
-6/5 downward 5. C
6. C
1. E 7. A
2. C 8. B
What’s more? 9. A
3. D
10. B
Activity 1 4. B
11. A
1. Principal axis 5. A
12. B
2. parabola 13. C
3. Focus Assessment 2 14. B
4. vertex 15. C
5. directrix
Additional Activity
Assessment 1
1. x2 = -6y
1. True 2. y = 16x
2

2.False 3. (x+3)2 = (-24/5) (y-4)

3. True 4. (y+6)2 = 5(x+4)
Activity 3 5. (y+5)2 = -16(x-2)
4. False

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 References
Deauna, M. C. & Lamayo, F. C. (2006). Introduction to Analytic Geometry & Calculus.
Quezon City, Philippines: SIBS Publishing House, Inc.

Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Resources (2016). Precalculus Learner’s

Material. Pasig City, Philippines: Department of Education

Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Resources (2016). Precalculus Teacher’s

Guide. Pasig City, Philippines: Department of Education

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – (Bureau/Office)

(Office Address)

Telefax:

Email Address:

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