The Distance Formula The Midpoint Formula

• The distance between two points is
always nonnegative.
Consider the points P and Q whose
coordinates are (x1, y1) and (x2, y2),
respectively. The distance d between these
points can be determined using the
Distance Formula:
𝑑 = |√(𝑥2 − 𝑥1)2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1)2 |
Sample Problem:
In the figure below, A is (2, 2), B is (5,
2), and C is (5, 6).
If L(x1, y1) and N(x2, y2) are the end points
of a segment and M is the midpoint, then
the coordinates of M can be determined
using the Midpoint Formula:
𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
𝑀= ( , )
2 2
Sample Problem:
In Figure 1, R is the midpoint between
Q(−9, −1) and T(−3, 7). Find its
coordinates and use the Distance
Formula to verify that it is in fact the
midpoint of QT.

Note: Since AB is horizontal and BC is

vertical, simple subtracting is By the Midpoint Formula:
necessary.

By the Distance Formula:

𝑑 = |(𝑥2 − 𝑥1)| 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒
𝑑 = |𝑦2 − 𝑦1| 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒
To find AC, though, simply subtracting is
not sufficient. For this, we must use the
original formula.

𝑑 = |√(5 − 2)2 + (6 − 2)2 |

𝑑 = |√(3)2 + (4)2 |

𝑑 = |√9 + 16|

𝑑 = |√25| 𝑜𝑟 𝑑 = 5
Conic Sections: Circle
The standard equation of a circle with
center at (h, k) and a radius of r units is:
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2
If the center is at the origin (0, 0), the
equation of the circle is:
𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2
Sample Problem:
A. Find the standard form of a circle
centered at (-6, 2) with a radius of 3√2.
1. Replacing h with -6, k with 2, and r
with 3√2, the equation becomes:
Which simplifies to:
2 2
(𝑥 + 6) + (𝑦 − 2) = 18
B. From the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 +
12𝑦 − 12 = 0, find the standard form
and graph the circle.
1. The equation can be rewritten as:
x 2 – 8 x + y 2 + 12 y = 12
2. Now, complete the square for each
variable and add that amount to each
side of the equation. Lastly, factor out
the equation.
This circle is centered at (4, –6) with a
radius of 8.
Conic Sections: Parabola
A parabola is the set of points in a plane
that are the same distance from a given
point and a given line in that plane. The
given point is called the focus, and the line
is called the directrix. The midpoint of the
perpendicular segment from the focus to
the directrix is called the vertex of the
parabola. The line that passes through the
vertex and focus is called the axis of
symmetry.
The equations of Parabolas:
Vertical:
x2 = 4py – vertex at point (0, 0)
(x – h)2 = 4p(y – k) – vertex at pt (h, k)
Horizontal:
y2 = 4px – vertex at point (0, 0)
(y – k)2 = 4p(x – h) – vertex at pt (h, k)
The distance from the vertex to the focus
and from the vertex to the directrix line are
the same. This distance is: p
A parabola with its vertex at (h, k), opening
vertically, will have the following
properties:
• If p > 0, it opens upward
• If p < 0, it opens downward
• The focus will be at (h, k + 𝑝)
• The directrix will have the
equation: y = k – p
• The axis of symmetry will have the
equation x = h
• The latus rectum will have the
equation 4p
• Its form will be (x – h)2 = 4p(y – k)
A parabola with its vertex at (h, k), opening
horizontally, will have the following
Conic Sections: Ellipses
properties:
- An ellipse is the set of all points in a
• If p > 0, it opens to the right
plane such that the sum of the
• If p < 0, it opens to the left
distances from two fixed points
• The focus will be at (h + p, k)
(foci) is constant.
• The directrix will have the
equation: x = h – p
• Planets follow an elliptical orbit
• The axis of symmetry will have the around the sun
equation y = k
• The major axis of an ellipse is
• The latus rectum will have the like the axis of symmetry of a
equation 4p parabola; it is the longer axis
• Its form will be (y – k)2 = 4p(x – h)
Sample Problem: The equations of Ellipses:
2
Given: x – 8x – 28y – 208 = 0 Horizontal:
1. Transform into the standard from. 𝑥2 𝑦2
𝑎2
+ 𝑏2
= 1 – center at point (0, 0)
X2 – 8x + c = 28y + 208 + c
(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
c = (b/2)2 𝑎2
+ 𝑏2
= 1 – center at pt (h, k

x2 – 8x + 16 = 28y + 208 +16 Vertical:

(x – 4)2 = 28y + 224 𝑥2 𝑦2

+ = 1 – center at point (0, 0)
𝑏2 𝑎2
(x – 4)2 = 28(y + 8) (𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
𝑏2
+ 𝑎2
= 1 – center at pt (h, k)
2. Find the properties
A horizontal ellipse with its center at (h, k)
• Opening – Upward will have the following properties:
• Vertex = (4, -8)
• Focus = (4, -1) • Vertices will be at (h ± a, k)
• Directrix y =-15 • Covertices will be at (h, k ± b)
• Axis of symmetry x = 4 • The foci will be at (h ± c, k)
• Latus rectum = 28 • c2 = a2 - b2
• Minor axis: 2b
3. Graph the parabola
• Major axis: 2a
• Its eccentricity will be e
𝑐 𝑏2
= 𝑎 𝑜𝑟√1 − 𝑎2
• The directrix will have the
±𝑎
equation: x =
𝑒
• The latus rectum will have the
2𝑏 2
equation
𝑎

A vertical ellipse with its center at (h, k) will

have the following properties:

• Vertices will be at (h, k ± a)

• Covertices will be at (h ± b, k)
• The foci will be at (h, k ± c)
• c2 = a2 - b2
Conic Sections: Hyperbola
• Minor axis: 2b
• Major axis: 2a - A hyperbola is the set of points in a
𝑐 plane such that the difference of the
• Its eccentricity will be e = 𝑎 or
distances of a point from two fixed
𝑏2
√1 − points (foci) in the plane is constant.
𝑎2
• The directrix will have the
±𝑎 • Looks like two mirrored
equation: y = parabolas with two “halves”
𝑒
• The latus rectum will have the • Has two foci and two
2𝑏 2 vertices
equation 𝑎
• The foci are further from the
center than its vertices
• The center of a hyperbola is
the midpoint of both the
transverse and conjugate
axes
Since the foci are further away from the
center of a hyperbola than the vertices (so
Sample problem: c > a, and e > 1)

Given: 9x2 – 25y2 - 54x + 100y – 44 = 0 Bigger values of e correspond to straighter

hyperbolas. While values closer to 1
1. Transform into standard form: correspond to hyperbolas whose graphs
quickly curves away from their centers.

2. Properties:

Latus rectum – line connecting 2 points of

the curve that passes through the focus
Eccentricity - the ratio of the distances
from any point of the conic section to a
focus and the corresponding directrix.
3. Graph the ellipse
Directrix – a line to which the distance
from any point in the hyperbola is in a
fixed ratio to the distance from the same
point to the focus
Asymptote - a line that the hyperbola A horizontal hyperbola (to the x axis) with
approaches to as x and y increases its center at (h, k) will have the following
without bound. properties:
Transverse axis - a line segment that • General form: ax2 - by2 + cx + dy +
passes through the center of the e=0
hyperbola and has vertices as its
• Center to vertex is a
endpoints
• Center to covertex is b
Conjugate axis - perpendicular to the • Focal length is 2c
transverse axis and has the co-vertices as • Vertices will be at (h ± a, k)
its endpoints. • Covertices will be at (h, k ± b)
• The foci will be at (h ± c, k)
• c2 = a2 + b2
The equations of Hyperbola:
• Its eccentricity will be e
Horizontal: 𝑐 𝑎 2+𝑏 2
= 𝑎 𝑜𝑟√ 𝑎
𝑥2 𝑦2
𝑎2
− 𝑏2
= 1 – foci are on the x axis • The directrix will have the
𝑎
equation: x = h + 𝑐 − 𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ − 𝑐 +
(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
𝑎2
− 𝑏2
= 1 – to the x axis 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎2
( 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 )
𝑒 𝑒 𝑐
Vertical: • The axis of symmetry will have the
𝑦2 𝑥2
equation y = k
𝑎2
− 𝑏2
= 1 – foci are on the y axis • The latus rectum will have the
2𝑏 2
(𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2 equation
𝑎2
− 𝑏2
= 1 – to the y axis 𝑎
• Length of the transverse axis is 2a
• Length of the conjugate axis is 2b
• Rectangle endpoints: (h ± b, k ± a)
• Equation of asymptote lines:
𝑏
y – k = ± (𝑥 − ℎ) + k
𝑎

A vertical hyperbola (to the y axis) with its

center at (h, k) will have the following
properties:

• General form: by2 - ax2 + cx + dy +

e=0
• Center to vertex is a
• Center to covertex is b
• Focal length is 2c
• Vertices will be at (h, k ± a)
• Covertices will be at (h ± b, k)
• The foci will be at (h, k ± c)
• c2 = a2 + b2
• Its eccentricity will be e
𝑐 𝑎 2+𝑏 2
= 𝑎 𝑜𝑟√ 𝑎
 • The directrix will have the 3. Graph the Hyperbola
𝑎
equation: y = k + 𝑐 − 𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 − 𝑐 +
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎2
( 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 )
𝑒 𝑒 𝑐
•
• The axis of symmetry will have the
equation x = h
• The latus rectum will have the
2𝑏 2
equation 𝑎
• Length of the transverse axis is 2a
• Length of the conjugate axis is 2b
• Rectangle endpoints: (h ± b, k ± a)
• Equation of asymptote lines:
𝑎
y = ± 𝑏 (𝑥 − ℎ) + k

Sample problem:
Given: 4y2 – 9x2 +36x – 8y – 68 = 0
1. Transform into the standard form:
4(y2 – 2y +1) -9(x2 – 4x +4) = 68 -36 +4
4(𝑦 − 1)2 9(𝑥 − 2)2 36
− =
36 36 36
(𝑦 − 1)2 (𝑥 − 2)2
− =1
9 4
2. Properties:
Center (2, 1)
a = 3, b = 2, c = 3.61
Vertices (2, 4), (2, -2)
Covertices (4, 1), (0, 1)
Foci (2, 4.61), (2, -4.61)
e = 1.2
Directrix y = 3.41 and -1.42
Axis of symmetry x = 2
Latus rectum = 2.67
Transverse axis = 6
Conjugate axis = 4
Rectangle endpoints = (4, 4), (4, -2),
(0, -2), and (0, 4)
±3
Asymptote y -1 = 2
(𝑥 − 2)