The Hyperbola

The hyperbola is the locus of all points in a plane such that the
absolute value of the difference of the distances from any point on
the hyperbola to two given points in the plane, the foci, is constant.
A1 and A2 are called
the vertices.
Line segment A1A2 is
called the transverse
axis and has a length
Transverse of 2a units.
axis
The distance from the
c centre to either focus
c a
F1 Oa is represented by c.
A1 A2 F2 Both the transverse
axis and its
perpendicular
bisector are lines of
symmetry of the
hyperbola.
3.5.2
 Locus Definition

P(x, y)

F1 F2

| PF1 - PF2| = 2a
3.5.3
 The Hyperbola Centred at the Origin
The diagram shows a graph of
a hyperbola with a rectangle
centred at the origin. The points
A1, A2 , B1 and B2 are the
midpoints of the sides of the
B1
rectangles. The hyperbola
A1 A1 lies between the lines
containing its diagonals. As
| x | increases, the hyperbola
B2 comes closer to these lines.
These lines are asymptotes.
The line segment B1B2 is
called the conjugate axis.
The conjugate axis has a length
of 2b units.

For a hyperbola, the value of b can be found

using the Pythagorean Theorem, a2 + b2 = c2.

3.5.4
 The Standard Equation of a Hyperbola
With Centre (0, 0) and Foci on the x-axis
The equation of a hyperbola
with the centre (0, 0) and
foci on the x-axis is:
x2 y 2
B (0, b) 2  2 1
a b
The length of the transverse
(-c, 0) (c, 0)
A1 A2 axis is 2a.
F1 (-a, 0) (a, 0)
F2 The length of the conjugate
axis is 2b.
The vertices are (a, 0) and
B (0, -b)
(-a, 0).
The foci are (c, 0) and (-c, 0).
The slopes of the asymptotes are
b -b
and .
a a
The equations of the asymptotes
b -b
are y = x and y = x.
3.5.5 a a
The Standard Equation of a Hyperbola with
Centre (0, 0) and Foci on the y-axis [cont’d]
The equation of a hyperbola
with the centre (0, 0) and
foci on the y-axis is:
F1(0, c)
y2 x 2
2  2 1
a b
The length of the transverse
A1(0, a) axis is 2a.
The length of the conjugate
B1(-b, 0) B2(b, 0) axis is 2b.
The vertices are (0, a) and
( 0, -a).
A2(0, -a) The foci are (0, c) and (0, -c).
The slopes of the asymptotes are
a -a
and .
b b
F2(0, -c) The equations of the asymptotes
a -a
are y = x and y = x.
b b
3.5.6
 Analyzing an Hyperbola
State the coordinates of the vertices, the coordinates of the foci,
the lengths of the transverse and conjugate axes, and the equations
of the asymptotes of the hyperbola defined by each equation.
a) x2 y2 The equations of the asymptotes are
 1
4 16 2 2
y  x and y  x.
1 1
For this equation, a = 2 and b = 4.
The length of the transverse axis is
2a = 4.
The length of the conjugate axis is
2b = 8.
The vertices are (2, 0) and (-2, 0):
c2 = a 2 + b 2
= 4 + 16
= 20
c  20
c 2 5
The coordinates of the foci are
(2 5,0) and (2 5,0).
3.5.7
Analyzing an Hyperbola
y2 x 2
b)  1
25 9

For this equation, a = 5 and b = 3.

The length of the transverse axis is
2a = 10.
The length of the conjugate axis is
2b = 6.
The vertices are (0, 5) and (0, -5):
c2 = a 2 + b 2
= 25 + 9
= 34
c  34
The coordinates of the foci are
(0, 34) and (0, 34).

The equations of the asymptotes are

5 5
y  x and y  x.
3 3 3.5.8
The Standard Form of the Hyperbola with Centre (h, k)

When the transverse axis is vertical,

the equation in standard form is:
(y  k)2 (x  h)2
2  2 1
a b
The centre is (h, k).
The transverse axis is parallel to the
(h, k) y-axis and has a length of 2a units.
The conjugate axis is parallel to the
x-axis and has a length of 2b units.
The slopes of the asymptotes are
a -a
and .
b b

The general form of the equation is

Ax2 + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0.

3.5.9
The Standard Form of the Hyperbola with Centre (h, k) [cont’d]

When the transverse axis is The transverse axis is parallel to the

horizontal, the equation in x-axis and has a length of 2a units.
standard form is: The conjugate axis is parallel to the
y-axis and has a length of 2b units.
(x  h) 2 (y  k)2 The slopes of the asymptotes are
2  2 1 b -b
a b and .
a a 3.5.10
Finding the Equation of a Hyperbola
The centre is (2, 3), so h = 3 and k = 2.
The transverse axis is parallel to the
y-axis and has a length of 10 units, so a = 5.
The conjugate axis is parallel to the
x-axis and has a length of 6 units, so b = 3.
The vertices are (-2, 8) and (-2, -2).
5
The slope of one asymptote is ,
so a = 5 and b = 3: 3
c2 = a 2 + b 2 The coordinates of the foci are
= 25 + 9 (2, 3  34 ) and (2, 3  34).
= 34
c  34

(y  k)2 (x  h)2
2  2 1
a b
(y  2)2 (x  3)2
2  2 1
5 3
(y  2) (x  3)2
2
Standard
 1
25 9 form
3.5.11
 Writing the Equation in General Form

(y  2)2 (x  3)2
 1
25 9
9(y - 2)2 - 25(x - 3)2 = 225
9(y2 - 4y + 4) - 25(x2 - 6x + 9) = 225
9y2 - 36y + 36 - 25x2 - 150x - 225 = 225
-25x2 +9y2 - 150x - 36y + 36 - 225 = 225
-25x2 + 9y2 - 150x - 36y - 414 = 0

The general form of the equation is

-25x2 + 9y2 - 150x - 36y + 36 = 0
where
A = -25, C = 9, D = -150, E = -36, F = 36.

3.5.12
 Writing the Equation of a Hyperbola
Write the equation of the hyperbola with centre at (2, -3), one
vertex at (6, -3), and the coordinates of one focus at (-3, -3).
The centre is (2, -3), so h = 2, k = -3.
The distance from the centre to the vertex is 4 units, so a = 4.
The distance from the centre to the foci is 5 units, so c = 5.
Use the Pythagorean property to find b:
b 2 = c2 - a 2
= 25 - 16 9(x - 2)2 - 16(y + 3)2 = 1
=9 9(x2 - 4x + 4) - 16(y2 + 6y + 9) = 144
b = ±3 9x2 - 36x + 36 - 16y2 - 96y - 144 = 144
9x2 - 16y2 - 36x - 96y + 36 - 144 = 144
(x  h) 2 (y  k)2 9x2 - 16y2 - 36x - 96y - 216 = 0
2  2 1
a b General form
(x  2)2 (y  3)2
2  2 1
4 3
(x  2)2 (y  3)2 Standard
 1 form
16 9 3.5.13
 Analyzing an Hyperbola
State the coordinates of the vertices, the coordinates of
the foci, the lengths of the transverse and conjugate axes
and the equations of the asymptotes of the hyperbola
defined by 4x2 - 9y2 + 32x + 18y + 91 = 0.

4x2 - 9y2 + 32x + 18y + 91 = 0

(4x2 + 32x ) + (- 9y2 + 18y) + 91 = 0
4(x2 + 8x + ____)
16 - 9(y2 - 2y + _____)
1 = -91 + _____
64 + _____
-9

4(x + 4)2 - 9(y - 1)2 = -36

(x  4)2 ( y  1)2
 1
9 4
(y  1)2 (x  4)2
 1
4 9
3.5.14
Analyzing an Hyperbola
(y  1)2 (x  4)2
 1
4 9
The centre is (-4, 1).
For this equation, a = 2 and b = 3.
The length of the transverse axis is
2a = 4.
The length of the conjugate axis is
2b = 6.
The vertices are (-4, 3) and (-4, -1):
c2 = a 2 + b 2
=4+9
= 13
c  13
The coordinates of the foci are
(4, 1  13) and (4, 1  13 ).
The equations of the asymptotes are
2 2
y  (x + 4) + 1 and y  (x + 4) + 1.
3 3
3.5.15
 Graphing an Hyperbola
Graph the hyperbola defined by 2x2 - 3y2 - 8x - 6y - 7 = 0.

2x2 - 3y2 - 8x - 6y - 7 = 0
(2x2 - 8x) + (-3y2 - 6y) - 7 = 0
4 - 3(y2 + 2y + ___
2(x2 - 4x + ____) 1 ) = 7 + _____
8 + ______
-3
2(x - 2)2 - 3(y + 1)2 = 12
(x  2)2 (y  1)2 Standard
 1
6 4 form
You must enter the equation in the Y= editor as y = :
(x  2)2 (y  1)2
 1 12  2(x  2)2
6 4 y 1
3
2(x - 2) - 3(y + 1) = 12
2 2

- 3(y + 1)2 = 12 - 2(x - 2)2

2 12  2(x  2)2
(y  1) 
3
12  2(x  2)2
y1 
3
3.5.16
Graphing the Hyperbola [cont’d]
12  2(x  2)2 (x  2)2 (y  1)2
y 1  1
3 6 4
The centre is (2, -1).

c2 = a 2 + b 2
=6+4
= 10
c  10
The coordinates of the foci are
(2  10,1) and (2  10,1).
The equations of the asymptotes are
2 2
y (x  2)  1 and y  (x  2)  1.
3.5.17 6 6
 General Effects of the Parameters A and C
When A ≠ C, and A x C < 0, the resulting
conic is an hyperbola.
When A is positive and C is negative, the
hyperbola opens to the left and right.

When A is negative and C is positive, the

hyperbola opens up and down.

When D = E = F = 0, a degenerate occurs.

E.g., 9x - 4y = 0
2 2 9x 2
- 4y 2
=0
(3x - 2y)(3x + 2y) = 0
3x - 2y = 0 or 3x + 2y = 0
-2y = -3x 2y = -3x
3 3
y x y  x
2 2
These equations result in intersecting lines.
3.5.18
Pages 159-163
A 1, 3, 6, 8,
11-17
B 19, 20, 23, 25,
27, 33, 36, 50

3.5.19