PARABOLA

Write an equation for the parabola with focus at

(0, 2) and directrix x = 2.

The vertex is always halfway between the focus and the directrix, and the parabola always curves away from the directrix, so I'll do a quick graph showing the focus, the directrix, and a rough idea of where the parabola will go:

So the vertex, exactly between the focus and directrix, must be at (h, k) = (1, 2). The absolute value of p is the distance between the vertex and the focus and the distance between the vertex and the directrix. (The sign on p tells me which way the parabola faces.) Since the focus and directrix are two units apart, then this distance has to be one unit, so | p | = 1. Since the focus is to the left of the vertex and directrix, then the parabola faces left (as I'd shown in my picture) and I get a negative value for p: p = 1. Since this is a "sideway" parabola, then the y part gets squared, rather than the x part. So the conics form of the equation must be:

(y (2))2 = 4(1)(x 1), or (y + 2)2 = 4(x 1)

Write an equation of the parabola with vertex (3,

1) and focus (3, 5).

Since the x-coordinates of the vertex and focus are the same, they are one of top of the other, so this is a regular vertical parabola, where the x part is squared. Since the vertex is below the focus, this is a right-side up parabola and p is positive. Since the vertex and focus are 5 1 =

4units apart, then p = 4.

Copyright Elizabeth Stapel 2010-2011 All Rights Reserved

And that's all I need for my equation, since they already gave me the vertex.

(x h)2 = 4p(y k) (x 3)2 = 4(4)(y 1) (x 3)2 = 16(y 1)

Write an equation for the parabola with vertex

(5, 2) and directrix y = 5.

The directrix is an horizontal line; since this line is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry, then this must be a regular parabola, where the x part is squared. The distance between the vertex and the directrix is |5 (2)| = |5 + 2| = 3. Since the directrix is below the vertex, then this is a right-side up parabola, so p is positive: p = 3. And that's all I need to find my equation:

(x h)2 = 4p(y k) (x 5)2 = 4(3)(y (2)) (x 5)2 = 12(y + 2)

ELLIPSE
Write an equation for the ellipse having one focus at (0, and its center at (0, 0).

3), a vertex at (0, 4),

Since the focus and vertex are above and below each other, rather than side by side, I know that 2 this ellipse must be taller than it is wide. Then a will go with the y part of the equation. Also, since the focus is 3 units above the center, then c = 3; since the vertex is 4 units above, then a= 4. The equation b2 = a2 c2 gives me 16 9 = 7 = b2. (Since I wasn't asked for the length of the minor axis or the location of the co-vertices, I don't need the value of b itself.) Then my equation is:

Write an equation for the ellipse with vertices and foci (3,

(4, 0) and (2, 0)

0) and (1, 0).

Copyright Elizabeth Stapel 2010-2011 All Rights Reserved

The center is midway between the two foci, so (h, k) = (1, 0), by the Midpoint Formula. Each focus is 2 units from the center, so c = 2. The vertices are 3 units from the center, so a = 3. Also, the foci and vertices are to the left and right of each other, so this ellipse is wider than it is tall, 2 and a will go with the x part of the ellipse equation. The equation b
2

= a2 c2 gives me 9 4 = 5 = b2, and this is all I need to create my equation:

Write an equation for the ellipse centered at the origin, having a vertex at containing the point (2, 4).

(0, 5) and
2

Since the vertex is 5 units below the center, then this vertex is taller than it is wide, and the a will 2 2 2 2 go with the y part of the equation. Also, a = 5, so a = 25. I know that b = a c , but I don't know the values of b or c. However, I do have the values of h, k, and a, and also a set of values

for x and y, those values being the point they gave me on the ellipse. So I'll set up the equation with everything I've got so far, and solve for b.

16b2 + 100 = 25b2 100 = 9b2 100/9 = b2

Then my equation is:

Write an equation for the ellipse having foci at and eccentricity e = 3/4.

(2, 0) and (2, 0)

The center is between the two foci, so (h, k) = (0, 0). Since the foci are 2 units to either side of 2 the center, then c = 2, this ellipse is wider than it is tall, and a will go with the x part of the 2 equation. I know that e = c/a, so 3/4 = 2/a. Solving the proportion, I get a = 8/3, so a = 64/9. 2 2 2 2 The equation b = a c gives me 64/9 4 = 64/9 36/9 = 28/9 = b . Now that I have values for

a2 and b2, I can create my equation:

HYPERBOLA
Find an equation for the hyperbola with center vertex (0, 3), and focus (5, 3).

(2, 3),

The center, focus, and vertex all lie on the horizontal line y = 3 (that is, they're side by side on a line paralleling the x-axis), so the branches must be side by side, and the x part of the equation 2 must be added. The a will go with the x part of the equation, and the y part will be subtracted. The vertex is 2 units from the center, so a = 2; the focus is 3 units from the center, so c = 3. 2 2 2 2 Then a + b = c gives me b = 9 4 = 5. I don't need to bother with the value of b itself, since they only asked me for the equation, which is:

Find an equation for the hyperbola with center and asymptotes y = (5/3)x. The vertex and the center are both on the vertical line x = 0 (that is, on the y-axis), so the hyperbola's branches are above and below each other, not side by side. Then the y part of the equation will be added, and will 2 get the a as its denominator. Also, the slopes of the two asymptotes will be of the form m = a/b. The vertex they gave me is 5 units above the center, so a = 5 and a2 = 25. The slope of the asymptotes (ignoring the "plus-minus" part) is a/b I need in order to find my equation:

(0, 0), vertex (0, 5),

= 5/3 = 5/b, sob = 3 and b2 = 9. And this is all

Find an equation of the hyperbola with x-intercepts at x and foci at (6, 0) and (4, 0).

= 5 and x = 3,

The foci are side by side, so this hyperbola's branches are side by side, and the center, foci, and vertices lie on a line paralleling the x-axis. So the y part of the equation will be subtracted and 2 the a will go with the x part of the equation. The center is midway between the foci, so the center

must be at (h, k) = (1, 0). The foci are 5 units to either side of the center, so c 25. Copyright Elizabeth Stapel 2010-2011 All Rights Reserved

= 5 andc2 =

The center lies on the x-axis, so the two x-intercepts must then also be the hyperbola's vertices. 2 Since the intercepts are 4 units to either side of the center, then a = 4 and a = 16. 2 2 2 2 Then a +b = c tells me that b = 25 16 = 9, and my equation is:

Find an equation for the hyperbola with vertices at eccentricity e = 17/8.

(2, 15) and (2, 1), and having

The vertices are above and below each other, so the center, foci, and vertices lie on a vertical line 2 paralleling the y-axis. Then the a will go with the y part of the hyperbola equation, and the x part will be subtracted. The center is midway between the two vertices, so (h, k) = (2, 7). The vertices are 8 units 2 above and below the center, so a = 8 and a = 64. The eccentricity is e = c/a = 17/8 = c/8, 2 2 2 2 2 soc = 17 and c = 289. The equation a + b = c tells me that b = 289 64 = 225. Then my equation is: