Conic Sections

FEMA: LESSON 6
Conic Sections
• The conic sections are the nondegenerate curves generated by the intersections of a plane with
one or two nappes of a cone.

• For a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cone, a circle is produced.

• For a plane that is not perpendicular to the axis and that intersects only a single nappe, the
curve produced is either an ellipse or a parabola.

• The curve produced by a plane intersecting both nappes is a hyperbola

Conic Sections
• A conic section can also be described as the locus of a point P moving in the plane of a
fixed point F known as focus (F) and a fixed line d known as directrix (with the
focus not on d) in such a way that the ratio of the distance of point P from focus F to its
distance from d is a constant e known as eccentricity. Now,

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 (𝑃) 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠 (𝐹)

𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑒 =
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 (𝑃) 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 (𝑑)

• If eccentricity, e = 0, the conic is a circle.

• If 0<e<1, the conic is an ellipse.
• If e=1, the conic is a parabola.
• And if e>1, it is a hyperbola.
General Equation of Conic Sections
• The general equation for any conic section is

𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙𝒚 + 𝑪𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

where A, B, C, D, E, F are constants.
• 1. If A and C are non zero and equal, and both have the same sign, then it will be a
circle.
• 2. If A and C are non zero and unequal, and have the same sign, then it will be an
ellipse.
• 3. If A or C is zero, then it will be a parabola.
• 4. If A and C have different signs and are non zero, then it will be a hyperbola.
 Parabola
The parabola is a conic section that is formed when a cone is cut by a plane parallel to
one lateral side of the cone.
Main characteristic of Parabola
• A parabola is a U-shaped plane curve where any point is at an equal distance
from a fixed point (known as the focus) and from a fixed straight line, which
is known as the directrix.

Focus
The focus is a fixed point used to define the
parabola. This point is not located on the
parabola, but inside. The focus is denoted by F.
Directrix
The directrix is a straight line in front of the
parabola. We use d to represent the directrix. The
distance between the directrix and the vertex is
the same as the distance between the focus and
the vertex.
 Vertex
The vertex of the parabola is its extreme point.
If the parabola opens upwards, the vertex
represents the lowest point in the parabola. If
the parabola opens downwards, the vertex
represents the highest point. In either case, the
vertex is a point that changes the direction of
the parabola. Frequently, the vertex is
represented with the letter V.
Focal length
2p 2p The focal length is the length between the
vertex and the focus.
p
Latus rectum
The latus rectum is a line perpendicular to the
line joining the vertex and the focus and is four
times the length of the focal length.
Axis
The axis of the parabola is a line perpendicular
to the directrix. The axis represents the line of
symmetry of the parabola.
 Standard form of Parabola with vertex (h, k)
TYPES OF VERTICAL PARABOLA HORIZONTAL PARABOLA
PARABOLA
Equation (𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑝 (𝑦 − 𝑘) (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 4𝑝(𝑥 − ℎ)
Vertex (h, k) (h, k)
Opening If p>0, opens upward If p>0, opens to the right
If p<0, opens downward If p<0, opens to the left
Directrix Horizontal Vertical

Equation of Parabola with vertex (0, 0)

TYPES OF VERTICAL PARABOLA HORIZONTAL PARABOLA
PARABOLA
Equation 𝑥 2 = 4𝑝y 𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥
Vertex (0, 0) (0, 0)
(-3, 1)
Example #1:
The equation of parabola is 𝑦 = 12𝑥. Find the length of the latus rectum,
vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry.
𝑥 = −3
𝑦 = 12𝑥 → ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎,
opens to the right
𝑦 = 4𝑝𝑥
4𝑝 = 12 → 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑚
12 𝑓(3,0) 𝑦=0
𝑝= =3
4
𝑉(0,0)
𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑥: (0,0)
𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠: ℎ + 𝑝, 𝑘 ; 0 + 3, 0 ; (3, 0)
𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥: 𝑥 = ℎ − 𝑝 ; 𝑥 = 0 − 3 ; (𝑥 = −3)
𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑦𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑦: y = k ; (y = 0)
Example #2:
The equation of parabola is (𝑥 − 1) = 4(𝑦 − 1). Find the length of the latus
rectum, vertex, focus, directrix and axis of symmetry.

(𝑥 − 1) = 4 𝑦 − 1 → 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎, 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑

(𝑥 − ℎ) = 4𝑝 𝑦 − 𝑘 𝑥=1
4𝑝 = 4
𝑝=1

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑥: (1, 1) 𝑓(1, 2)

𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠: ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑝 ; 1,1 + 1 ; (1, 2)
𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥: 𝑦 = 𝑘 − 𝑝 ; 𝑦 = 1 − 1 ; (𝑦 = 0)
𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑦𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑦: x = h ; (x = 1) 𝑉(1, 1)
𝑦=0
Example #3:
Find the equation of the parabola whose co-ordinates of vertex and focus are (-2, 3)
and (1, 3) respectively.

ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎, 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

(𝑦 − 𝑘) = 4𝑝 𝑥 − ℎ
(𝑦 − 3) = 4(2 + 1) 𝑥 − (−2)
(𝑦 − 3) = 12 𝑥 + 2 → 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚
𝑉(−2, 3) 𝑓(1, 3)
𝑦 − 6𝑦 + 9 = 12𝑥 + 24
𝑦 − 6𝑦 + 9 − 12𝑥 − 24 = 0
𝑦 − 12𝑥 − 6𝑦 − 15 = 0 → 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚
 Ellipse
The ellipse is one of the conic sections, that is produced, when a plane cuts the cone at
an angle with the base.
Ellipse
• An ellipse is the locus of all those points in a plane such that the sum of their distances
from two fixed points in the plane, is constant.

• The fixed points are known as the foci, which are surrounded by the curve. The fixed line is
directrix and the constant ratio is eccentricity of ellipse. Eccentricity is a factor of the
ellipse, which demonstrates the elongation of it and is denoted by ‘e’.
Parts of an Ellipse
• Every ellipse has two axes of symmetry. The longer axis is called the major axis, and the
shorter axis is called the minor axis.

• Each endpoint of the major axis is the vertex of the ellipse (plural: vertices), and each
endpoint of the minor axis is a co-vertex of the ellipse.

• The center of an ellipse is the midpoint of both the major and minor axes. The axes are
perpendicular at the center.

• The foci always lie on the major axis.

• The center of an ellipse is the midpoint of both

the major and minor axes. The axes are
perpendicular at the center.

• The foci always lie on the major axis.

Eccentricity of the Ellipse
• The eccentricity of an ellipse is the ratio of the distance from its center to either of its foci and
to one of its vertices.
𝑐
𝑒 =
𝑎
• We know that 𝑐 = 𝑎 −𝑏
𝑎 −𝑏
𝐼𝑓 𝑎 > 𝑏, 𝑒 =
𝑎
𝑏 −𝑎
𝐼𝑓 𝑎 < 𝑏, 𝑒 =
𝑏

• Where a = semi-major axis

• b = semi-minor axis and
• c = distance from the center of the ellipse to either focus.
The eccentricity of an ellipse is 0 ≤ e< 1.
Standard Forms of the Equation of an Ellipse
with Center (h, k)
Standard Forms of the Equation of an Ellipse
with at the origin (0,0)
Example #1:
What is the standard form equation of the ellipse that has vertices ±8,0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑖 (±5,0)?

𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟: (0,0)
𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠: ±8, 0 ; 𝑎 = 8
𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑖: ±5, 0 ; 𝑐 = 5
𝑐 = 𝑎 −𝑏
(−8, 0) (−5, 0) (5, 0) (8, 0)
𝑏 = 𝑎 −𝑐
𝑏 = 8 −5
𝑏 = 64 − 25
𝑏 = 39
Example #2: (−2, 8)
( ) ( )
Graph the ellipse by the equation, + =1

( ) ( ) (−2, 5 + 5)

( ) ( ( ))
(−4, 5) (−2, 5) (0, 5)

𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟: (−2, 5)
𝑎 = 9; 𝑎 = 3
𝑏 = 4; 𝑏 = 2 (−2, 5 − 5)
𝑐 = 𝑎 − 𝑏 ;𝑐 = ± 5
𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠: ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑎 ; (−2, 5 ± 3)
𝑐𝑜 − 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠: ℎ ± 𝑏, 𝑘 ; (−2 ± 2, 5) (−2, 2)
𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑖: ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑐 ; (−2, 5 ± 5)
 Circle
• A circle is formed when a plane cuts the cone at right angles to its axis.
• The definition of a circle 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.
Equation of a circle
• A circle is an ellipse in which both the
foci coincide with its center. As the foci
are at the same point, for a circle, the
distance from the center to a focus is
zero. This eccentricity gives the circle its
round shape. Thus the eccentricity of any
circle is 0.

• The general form of the equation of a

circle with center at (h, k), and radius r:
Example #1:
Find an equation of the circle with center at ( 0, 0 ) and radius 4.
Then graph the circle.

(𝑥 − ℎ) +(𝑦 − 𝑘) = 𝑟
(𝑥 − 0) +(𝑦 − 0) = 4

𝑥 + 𝑦 = 16 (0, 0)
Example #2:
Graph the circle with equation (𝑥 + 2) +(𝑦 − 3) = 25.

(𝑥 + 2) +(𝑦 − 3) = 25
(𝑥 − (−2)) +(𝑦 − (3)) = 5

𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟: −2, 3
𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠: 5 (−2, 3)