Pre-Calculus: Conic Sections

Circle &
Parabola
CIRCLE
 What is Circle?
It is the set of all points in a plane such
that each point in the set is equidistant
from a fixed point called the center.
The distance from the center is
called the radius. The distance
around the circle is called the
circumference.
 Parts of the Circle:
Center Chord
Central Angle Sector
Radius Inscribed Angle
Segment Circumference
Diameter Arc
How to determine if the conic
section is a CIRCLE?
Conic Section’s equation in general form:

Circle (general form):

If Ax^2 and Cy^2 are both present with

same sign, the equation is circle.
 Example:

Both Ax^2 and Cy^2 are present

A=3
B=2
C=3 B^2 = -4(3)(3)
Therefore, the
2^2 =-4(9) equations is
4 - 36 circle.
-32 < 0
 Standard Form of a
CIRCLE
Formula:
(h,k) is the symbol for the center, while r is for radius.
If the given is (0,0) means the center is at the origin.
Distance
Formula:
Example: Find the standard form of the equation
of the parabola with center (-1,4) and radius of
7.

Given: Solution:
Center = (-1, 4) (x-h)^2+ (y-k)^2 = r^2
r=7 (x-1)^2+ (y-4)^2 = 7^2
(x-1)^2+ (y-4)^2 = 49

The standard form of

this equation is
(x-1)^2+ (y-4)^2 = 49
Example: Determine the radius and center of the
following
x^2+14x+y^2−8y=−56

Equation of a circle: x^2+14x+y^2−8y=−56

x =(14/2)^2 y =(−82)^2
=(7)^2 =(−4)^2
x =49 y =16

Radius(r) =3, Center(h,k)= (-7,4)

PARABOLA
 What is Parabola?
A parabola is the set of all points (x,y) in a plane
that are the same distance from a fixed line,
called the directrix, and a fixed point (the focus)
not on the directrix. The standard form of a
parabola with vertex (0,0) and the x-axis as its
axis of symmetry can be used to graph the
parabola.
 Parts of
PARABOLA:
Vertex (V)
Focus (F)
Focal distance (A)
Directrix line (D.L)
Latus rectum (LR)
Axis of parabola
Eccentricity (e)
 Types of PARABOLA:
upward: downward:
(x-h)^2 = 4a(y-k) (x-h)^2 = -4a(y-k)
rightward: leftward:
(y-k)^2 = 4a(x-h) (y-k)^2 = -4a(x-h)
 Example: The equation of a parabola if y2 =
24x. Find the length
of the latus rectum, focus, and vertex.

Given:
4a = 24
a = 24/4
a=6

Solution:
Length of latus rectum = 4a Length of latus
= 4(6)
= 24 rectum = 24,
Focus= (a,0) = (6,0) focus = (6,0)
Vertex = (0,0) vertex = (0,0)
 Example: Find the standard form of the equation of
the parabola with vertex (3,2) and focus (3,5).

Given: Orientation: Opens

Vertex = (3,2) Upward
Focus = (3,5)
a=3
4a = 4(3) = 12
Solution:
(x-h)^2= 4a(y-k)
(x-3)^2= 4a(y-2) The standard form is
(x-3)^2= 4(3)(y-2) (x-3)^2= 12(y-2)
(x-3)^2= 12(y-2)