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Elements of Parabola

1.Focus is located at distance a from vertex in the direction of parabola’s opening.


2.Directrix is at distance a from the vertex. It is a straight line located at the
opposite side of parabola’s opening.
3.Vertex is the point extremity of parabola, i.e. highest point for open downward,
lowest point for open upward, rightmost point for leftward, and leftmost
point for rightward. The coordinates of vertex is denoted as (h, k).
4.Axis of symmetry of parabola. It contains both the focus and the vertex and
always perpendicular to the directrix.
5.Latus Rectum, (LR), is a line perpendicular to the axis of symmetry,
passing through the focus and terminates on the parabola itself. The total
length of LR is 4a (LR=4a), where a stands for the distance from focus to
vertex.
THE EQUATION OF A PARABOLA WITH
VERTEX AT ( h, k )
◦Opening to the right. 𝑦 − 𝑘 2
= 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)
◦Opening to the left. 𝑦 − 𝑘 2
= −4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)

◦Opening upward. 𝑥 − ℎ 2
= 4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
◦Opening upward. 𝑥 − ℎ 2
= −4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)
EXAMPLE
◦Find the vertex, focus, directrix, axis of symmetry, ends of latus
rectum and sketch the graph of the parabola defined by the
equation (y – 3)2 = 8(x – 5).
(From the equation, remember that the h always goes with the x and the k
always goes with the y, we can see that the center is at (h, k) = (5, 3). The
coefficient of the unsquared part is 4p; in this case, that gives us 4p = 8, so p =
2. Since the y part is squared and p is positive, then this parabola opens to the
right. The focus is inside the parabola, so it has to be two units to the right of
the vertex: vertex: (5, 3); focus: (7, 3); directrix? Ends of LR? AS? Graph?
EXAMPLE
Find the vertex, focus, directrix, axis of
symmetry, ends of latus rectum and sketch the
graph of the parabola defined by the
equation (x + 3)2 = –20(y – 1).
EXAMPLE
◦Find the vertex, focus, directrix, axis of symmetry, ends of latus
rectum and sketch the graph of the parabola defined by the
equation
(From the equation, remember that the h always goes with the x and the k
always goes with the y, we can see that the center is at (h, k) = (5, 3). The
coefficient of the unsquared part is 4p; in this case, that gives us 4p = 8, so p =
2. Since the y part is squared and p is positive, then this parabola opens to the
right. The focus is inside the parabola, so it has to be two units to the right of
the vertex: vertex: (5, 3); focus: (7, 3); directrix? Ends of LR? AS? Graph?
EXAMPLE
◦Find the vertex, focus, directrix, axis of symmetry, ends of latus
rectum and sketch the graph of the parabola defined by the
equation 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟔𝒚 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏𝟓 = 𝟎.
𝒚𝟐 + 𝟔𝒚 − 𝟏𝟓 = −𝟏𝟐𝒙
𝒚𝟐 + 𝟔𝒚 + 𝟗 − 𝟏𝟓 = −𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟗
𝟐
𝒚+𝟑 − 𝟏𝟓 = −𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟗
𝟐
𝒚+𝟑 = −𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐𝟒
𝟐
𝒚+𝟑 = −𝟏𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟐)
𝟐
𝒚+𝟑 = 𝟒(−𝟑)(𝒙 − 𝟐)
Elements y = a(x – h)2 + k x = a(y – k)2 + h
of the
Parabola Opens up (a > 0) Opens right (a > 0)
Opens down (a < 0) Opens left (a < 0)

Vertex: (h, k) (h, k)


Axis of Symmetry: x=h y=k
Directrix: y=k–p x=h–p
Focus: (h, k + p) (h + p, k)
ASSIGNMENT!!!!!!
Find the vertex, focus, directrix, axis of symmetry, ends of latus rectum
and sketch the graph of the parabola defined by the following
equations:
1) + 10y + 25 = –x
y 2

2) (x – 5)2 = 12(y + 2)
𝟐
3) 𝒚 − 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟖 =0
𝟐
4) 𝒙 − 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟏 = 𝟎

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