CONIC SECTIONS

General Equation of Conic Sections: 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙𝒚 + 𝑪𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

Determinant
Conic Section Eccentricity
(𝑩𝟐 − 𝟒𝑨𝑪)
<0 , A=C Circle =0
=0 Parabola =1
<0 , A≠B Ellipse <1
>0 Hyperbola >1

CIRCLE

General Equation: 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

If D and E = 0, center is at origin C(0,0)

Standard Equations: C(0,0) 𝒙 𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒓 𝟐

C(h,k) (𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝒌)𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐

Using the general equation: 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

𝐷 𝐸
Center (h,k) ℎ = − 2𝐴 𝑘 = − 2𝐴

𝐷2 +𝐸2−4𝐴𝐹
Radius 𝑟= √
4𝐴2

PARABOLA
General Equations:
 
𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

𝑪𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

Standard Equations:



Opening Equation
Right 𝑦 2 = 4𝑝𝑥
Left 𝑦 2 = −4𝑝𝑥
Upward 𝑥 2 = 4𝑝𝑦
Downward 𝑥 2 = −4𝑝𝑦
PARABOLA continuation...

        Latus Rectum: 𝐋𝐑 = 𝟒𝐚

Opening Equation 
Right (𝐲 − 𝐤)𝟐 = 𝟒𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉) Focus (𝒉 ± 𝒂, 𝒌)
Left (𝐲 − 𝐤)𝟐 = −𝟒𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉) Directrix: 𝒙 = −𝒂
Upward (𝐱 − 𝐡)𝟐 = 𝟒𝒂(𝒚 − 𝒌) 
Downward (𝐱 − 𝐡)𝟐 = −𝟒𝒂(𝒚 − 𝒌)   
   Focus (𝒉, 𝒌 ± 𝒂)
          Directrix: 𝒚 = −𝒂

ELLIPSE

General Equation: 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑪𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

If D and E = 0, center is at origin C(0,0)

Standard Equation: 

  
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
 𝒂𝟐 + 𝟐
𝒃
= 𝟏   
𝒃𝟐
+
𝒂𝟐
= 𝟏


  
(𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐 (𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
 𝒂𝟐
+
𝒃𝟐
= 𝟏  
𝒃𝟐
+
𝒂𝟐
= 𝟏

Horizontal Major Axis Vertical Major Axis

Center (𝐡, 𝐤) (𝐡, 𝐤)
Vertices (𝐡 ± 𝐚, 𝐤) (𝐡, 𝐤 ± 𝐚)
Foci (𝐡 ± 𝐜, 𝐤) (𝐡, 𝐤 ± 𝐜)
𝐚 𝐚
Directrices 𝐱=± 𝐲=±
𝒆 𝒆

𝟐𝐛𝟐
Latus Rectum: 𝐋𝐑 = Length of major axis: 2a
𝒂

Focal length equation: 𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐 Length of minor axis: 2b

 HYPERBOLA

General Equation: 𝑨𝒙𝟐 − 𝑪𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎

Standard Equation: 

  
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐
 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐 = 𝟏   − 𝒃𝟐 = 𝟏
𝒂𝟐


  
(𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐 (𝒙−𝒉)𝟐
 − = 𝟏   − = 𝟏
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐

Horizontal Transverse Axis Vertical Transverse Axis

Center (𝐡, 𝐤) (𝐡, 𝐤)
Vertices (𝐡 ± 𝐚, 𝐤) (𝐡, 𝐤 ± 𝐚)
Co vertices (𝐡, 𝐤 ± 𝐛) (𝐡 ± 𝐛, 𝐤)
Foci (𝐡 ± 𝐜, 𝐤) (𝐡, 𝐤 ± 𝐜)
Asymptotes 𝒃 𝒂
𝒚 − 𝒌 = ± (𝒙 − 𝒉) 𝒚 − 𝒌 = ± (𝒙 − 𝒉)
𝒂 𝒃

𝟐𝐛𝟐
Latus Rectum: 𝐋𝐑 = Length of major axis: 2a
𝒂

Focal length equation: 𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 Length of minor axis: 2b