LESSON 1.

2:
PARABOLAS
LESSON 1.2.1:
DEFINITION AND
EQUATION OF A PARABOLA
Definition: A parabola is a
set of all coplanar points that
are equidistant from a fixed line
and a fixed point not on the
fixed line. The fixed line is called
the directrix of the parabola and
the fixed point is called the
focus. The line perpendicular to
the directrix and passing
through the focus F is called the
axis of symmetry. The parabola
is said to be symmetric with
respect to this line. The chord
that passes through the focus
and perpendicular to the axis of
symmetry is called the latus
rectum. The point on the
parabola midway between the
latus rectum and the directrix is
the vertex of the parabola. The
vertex is the point where the
curve changes direction. A
parabola is said to be in
standard position if its vertex is
at the origin and its principal
axis is one of the coordinate
axes.
Activity 1: Describe the
parabola with focus at F(0, c).
(Refer to Figure 1.18 and Figure 1.19)
Let F be a given point, and
l a given line not containing
F. The set of all points P
such that the distance from
F and from l are the same,
is called the parabola. The
point F is its focus and the
line l its directrix.
Activity 2: Describe the
parabola with focus at F(0, –c).
Activity 3: Describe the features
of the graph of the parabola
2
with standard equation x = 4cy
2
or x = –4cy.
(1) vertex: origin V (0, 0)
• If the parabola opens upward the
vertex is the lowest point.
• If the parabola opens downward,
the vertex is the highest point.
(2) directrix: the line y = –c or
line y = c
 • The directrix is c units below or
above the vertex.
(3) focus: F (0, c) or F (0, –c)
• The focus is c units above or
below the vertex.
 • Any point on the parabola has
the same distance from the focus
as it has from the directrix.
(4) axis of symmetry: x = 0 (y-axis)
• The line that divides the
parabola into two parts which are
mirror images of each other.
 Illustrative Example 1.2.1:
Determine the focus and
directrix of the parabola with
the given equation. Sketch the
graph, and indicate the focus,
directrix, vertex, and axis of
symmetry.
 2
(1) x = 12y
2
(2) x = –6y
Illustrative Example 1.2.2:
(1) What is the standard
equation of the parabola in
Figure 1.18?
(2) Find the standard equation of
the parabola with focus F(0, 20)
and directrix y = –20
Problem Set No. 4:
(1) Give the focus and the
directrix of the parabola with
2
equation x = 10y. Sketch the
graph, and indicate the focus,
directrix, vertex, and axis of
symmetry.
(2) Find the standard equation of
the parabola with focus
F(0, –3.5) and directrix y = 3.5
 LESSON 1.2.2: MORE
PROPERTIES OF PARABOLA
(1) Vertical Parabola
Opens upward or downward
(2) Horizontal Parabola
Opens to the right or to the left
 KEYNOTES:
(1) The equations are in terms
of x – h and y – k.
(2) If x-part is squared, the
parabola is vertical; if y-part is
squared, the parabola is
horizontal.
(3) If the coefficient of the linear
part is positive, the parabola
opens upward or to the right; if
negative, downward or to the
left.
 Illustrative Example 1.2.3:
Figure 1.20 shows the graph of
parabola, with only its focus and
vertex indicated. Find its
standard equation. What is its
directrix and its axis of
symmetry?
 Illustrative Example 1.2.4:
Determine the vertex, the focus,
directrix, and axis of symmetry
of the parabola with the given
equation. Sketch the parabola,
and include these points and
lines.
 2
(1) y – 5x + 12y = – 16
2
(2) 5x + 30x + 24y = 51
Illustrative Example 1.2.5:
A parabola has focus F( 7, 9 ) and
directrix y = 3. Find its standard
equation.
 Problem Set No. 5:
(1) Determine the vertex, the
focus, directrix, and axis of
symmetry of the parabola with
2
equation x – 6x + 5y = –34.
Sketch the parabola, and include
these points and lines.
(2) A parabola has focus
F( –2, –5 ) and directrix x = 6.
Find the standard equation of
the parabola.
Performance Task No. 1:
Constructing a Parabolic Art
MATERIALS:
1/8 Illustration Board
Ruler or any straight edge
Colorful Pencils/Ballpens/Markers
Plastic Cover
PROCEDURE:
1. Form a group with 4 or 5
members.
2. Construct different lines as axes.
3. Calibrate each axis with exact
the same measure with the other
axis.
4. Continuously connect points
with the each point of the other
axis.
5. Work creatively and
collaboratively.
6. Paste three pictures as
documentation.
7. Mount the output with plastic
cover.
8. Attach the rubric at the back of
the illustration board.
 LESSON 1.2.3: Situational
Problems Involving Parabolas
Illustrative Example 1.2.6:
A satellite dish has a shape
called paraboloid, where each
cross-section is a parabola. Since
radio signals (parallel to the axis)
will bounce off the surface of the
dish to the focus, the receiver
should be placed at the focus.
How far should the receiver be
from the vertex, if the dish is 12
feet across, and 4.5 feet deep at
the vertex.
Illustrative Example 1.2.7:
The cable of a suspension bridge
hangs in the shape of a
parabola. The tower supporting
the cable are 400 feet apart and
150 feet high. If the cable, at its
lowest, 30 feet above the bridge
as its midpoint, how high is the
cable 50 feet away (horizontally)
from either tower?
Problem Set No. 6:
A satellite dish in the shape of a
paraboloid is 10 feet across, and
4 feet at its vertex. How far is
the receiver from the vertex, if it
is place at the focus? Round off
your answer to 2 decimal places.
 REVIEW FOR TEST NO. 2
Find the standard equation of
the parabola which satisfies the
given conditions.
1. vertex (0, 0), c = 6, axis of
symmetry x = 0
2. vertex (0, 0), –c=–7, axis of
symmetry y = 0
3. vertex (0, 0), directrix x = –1
4. vertex (4, 8), focus (–1, 8)
5. vertex (5, 3), directrix y = –2
6. vertex (6, –2), focus (6, 4)
7. vertex ( 2, 3), vertical axis of
symmetry, through point
P (–4, –6)
8. vertex ( 2, 3), horizontal axis
of symmetry, through point
P(–4, –6)