PARABOLAS

Topic 7.2
Definition
 The set of all points in a plane that are
the same distance from a given point
called the focus and a given line called
the directrix.

FOCUS POINT Same Distance!

DIRECTRIX
Writing linear equation in
parabolic form
GOAL: Turn y  ax  bx  c into
2


y  a ( x  h)  k 2
 Writing linear equation in
parabolic form
1. Start with y  ax 2  bx  c
2. Group the two x-terms
3. Pull out the constant with x2 from the grouping
4. Complete the square of the grouping
**Look back to Topic 6.3 for help**

5. Write the squared term as subtraction so that you

end with y  a ( x  h)  k
2
 Example : y  3 x  12 x  16 2

y  (3 x 2  12 x)  16 Group x-terms
y  3( x 2  4 x)  16 Pull out GCF

y  3( x 2  4 x  ___)  16  ____Complete the Square

**Remember that whatever you add in the
grouping must be subtracted from the c-value**

y  3( x  4 x  4)  16  12
2

y  3( x  2) 2  4 or Factor and simplify

y  3( x  (2)) 2  4
 Why write in parabolic form?

It gives you necessary information to draw the parabola

Equation y  a ( x  h) 2  k x  a( y  k )2  h
Axis of symmetry x=h y=k
Vertex (h, k) (h, k)
Focus  1   1 
 h , k    h  ,k 
 4 a   4a 
Directrix 1 1
yk x  h
4a 4a
Direction of opening Up: a>0, Down: a<0 Right: a>0, Left: a<0
Latus Rectum 1
units
1
units
a a
Graph of prior example
y  3( x  (2))  4
2

1
3
 You Try!!

Write the following equation in parabolic form. State

the vertex, axis of symmetry and direction of opening.

x  y  10 y  7
2

Parabolic form: x  ( y  5)  32
2

Vertex: (-32,5)
Axis of symmetry: y  5
Direction of Opening: right