Topic 11: Analytic

Geometry
11.1 The Ellipse
11.3 The Parabola

Conic sections, p438

curves that result from the

intersection of the right circular
cone and a plane.
1. Circle (section 3.3)
2. Ellipse
3. Parabola
4. Hyperbola (not in the syllabus)

Ellipse

An ellipse is the set of all points in a plane the

sum of whose distance from two fixed points,
F1 and F2, is constant. These two fixed points
are called foci. The midpoint of the segment
connecting the foci is the center of the ellipse.
Center

Vertex
Major
axis

Vertex
Minor
axis

Ellipse (cont)
Vertex

Center

Major
axis

Vertex

Minor
axis

Major axis is horizontal

with length 2a. (a > b),
p440
2
2
Center: (0, 0)

x
y
2 1
2
a
b

Vertex: ( a, 0)
Foci: ( c, 0),
where c2 = a2 b2
Length of minor
axis = 2b with
coordinate (0, b)

(0,b)
(-c,0)
(-a,0)

(c,0)
(0,0)
(0, -b)

(a,0)

Major axis is vertical with

length 2a. (a > b), p440

Center: (0, 0)
Vertex: (0, a)
Foci: (0, c),
where c2 = a2 b2
Length of minor
axis = 2b with
coordinate ( b, 0)

x
y
2 1
2
b
a
(0,a)
(0, c)
(-b,0)

(0,0)
(0, -c)
(0, -a)

(b,0)

Example:
1. Graph and locate the foci and vertices.

x2 y2
a)

1
9
4
b) 25 x 2 16 y 2 400
2. Find the standard form of the equation

of an ellipse with foci at

(1, 0) and (1, 0) and vertices (2, 0)
and (2, 0)

Translation of Ellipse, p443

( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2

1
2
2
a
b
(h, k)

(0, 0)

x2 y2
2 1
2
a
b

Equation of ellipse with

center at (h, k), p444
Major
axis

Equation

Foci

Vertices

Parallel
(h

c,
k)
(h

a,
( x h) ( y k )

1 to x-axis,
k)
2
2
a
b
horizonta
2
2
2
b a c
l
2

Parallel
(h, k c) (h, k
( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2

1 to y-axis,
a)
2
2
b
a
vertical
2
2
2
b a c

Major axis parallel to the xaxis

Major
axis

Center;
(h, k)

Vertex
(h-a, k)

Vertex
(h + a,
k)

Focus
(h - c,
k)

Focus
(h+c, k)

Major axis parallel to the yaxis

Vertex
(h, k +
a)

Focus
(h, k +
c)

Center;
(h, k)

Major
axis

Focus
(h, k - c)

Vertex
(h, k - a)

Example:

Graph and state the center, foci,

vertices, and major axis of ellipse
with equation:

( x 1) ( y 2)
a)

1
4
9
b) 4 x 2 25 y 2 24 x 100 y 36 0
2

Parabola, p464

A parabola is the set of all points in

a plane that are equidistant from a
fixed line (directrix) and the fixed
point (focus) that is not on the line.

Directrix

Parabol
a
Focus

Vertex

Axis of
symmetry

Latus
rectum

Equation of parabola,
p465

The standard form of the equation of a

parabola with vertex at the origin, p >
0 and length of latus rectum = |2p| is

y 4 px
2

Directrix:
x = -p

Vertex
:
(0,0)

(p, 2p)

Focus
:
(p,0)

(p, -2p)

Latus
rectum
length: |4p|

Equation of parabola

The standard form of the equation of a

parabola with vertex at the origin, p >
0 and length of latus rectum = |2p| is

Latus
rectum
length: |4p|

(-2p,p)

Focus
:
(0, p)

x 4 py
2

(2p,p)
x

Vertex
:
(0,0)

Directrix:
y = -p

Example:
1. Find the focus and directrix of the

parabola given by:

a. y2 = 12x
b. x2 = 8y
Then, graph the parabola.
2. Find the standard form of the

equation of a parabola with focus

(5, 0) and directrix x = 5.

Equation of parabolas with

center at (h, k), p468
Equation

Axis of
symmetry

Focus

Directri
x

( y k ) 2 4 p ( x h)

(h + p,
horizontal
k)

x=hp

( x h) 2 4 p ( y k )

(h, k +
p)

y=kp

vertical

Parabola: (y k)2 = 4a(x

h)
If a > 0 : opens to the right
If a < 0 : opens
to the left
y
Directrix:
x=h-a

Vertex:
(h,k)

Focus:
(h + a, k)
x

Axis of
symmetry

Parabola: (x h)2 = 4a(y

k)
If a > 0 : opens upward
If a < 0 : opens downward
y

Vertex
:
(h, k)
Axis of
symmetry

Focus:
(h, k + a)

Directrix:
y=k-a

Example:
1. Find the vertex, focus, and directrix

of the parabola given by

(x 3)2 = 8(y + 1)
2. Convert the equation of y2 + 2y +

12 x 23 = 0 to the standard form

of parabola. Hence, find the vertex,
focus and directrix.