Unit 2

The

locus of an equation is a curve containing

those points, whose coordinates satisfy the
equation.
A point lies on a curve if and only if its
coordinates satisfy the equation of the curve.

y 2x 5

line

x y 9
2

circle

conic section is
the intersection of
a plane and a right
circular cone with
two nappes.

degenerate conic is either a point, a circle,

or two intersecting lines.

non-degenerate conic is either a parabola,

an ellipse or a hyperbola

non-degenerate conic is a set of points on

the plane such that the ratio of the
undirected distance of P from a fixed point
to the undirected distance of P from a fixed
line not through the fixed point is a constant.

 focus

fixed point

directrix

fixed line

principal

axis line passing through the focus

and perpendicular to the directrix

vertex

intersection of the principal axis and

the conic

 The

constant ratio is called the eccentricity

of the conic, which we will denote by e.
parabola

ellipse
hyperbola

parabola is
the set of all
points on the
plane that are
equidistant
from a fixed
point and a
fixed line.

Trace a parabola using a pencil and string:

http://www.sciences.univnantes.fr/sites/genevieve_tulloue/conics/drawing/para_string.html

A parabola
with focus at
and
directrix with equation
has standard equation

If
If

, it opens to the right.

, it opens to the left.

A parabola
with focus at
and
directrix with equation
has standard equation
If
If

, it opens upward.
, it opens downward.

Give the properties of the parabola with

equation
p=
Vertex:
Focus:
Directrix:
Prinicipal axis:

Give the properties of the parabola with

equation
p=
Vertex:
Focus:
Directrix:
Prinicipal axis:

Give the properties of the parabola with

equation:

y 16 x
2

x 12 y
2

y 1

4 x 3

vertex
p

distance of vertex from focus

and directrix

Vertex:
Opening upward

Focus:
Directrix:

Endpoints of LR:

Give the standard equation of a parabola with

vertex at
and focus at
.

An ellipse is the
set of points on a
plane the sum of
whose distances
from two fixed
points is a
constant.

Trace an ellipse using a pencil and string:

http://www.sciences.univnantes.fr/sites/genevieve_tulloue/conics/drawing/ellipse_string.html

o 2a is the constant sum of distances

from the two vertices

o 2c is the distance between the two foci

 The

points (a,0) and (-a,0) are called the

vertices of the ellipse.

They

are joined by the segment called the

major axis.

 The

line segment joining the points (0,b) and

(0,-b) is called the minor axis.

The

intersection of the major and minor axes

is called the center of the ellipse.

is the distance between the center and the

vertices

is the distance between the center and the

endpoints of the minor axis

is the distance between the center and the

foci

is the eccentricity of the ellipse

is the distance between the

center and the directrices

 Center:
Vertices:
Endpoints
Foci:

of minor axis:

 Eccentricity:

Directrices:
Principal

axis: x-axis

 Center:
Vertices:
Endpoints

Foci:

of minor axis:

 Eccentricity:

Directrices:
Principal

axis: y-axis

 Center:
Vertices:
Endpoints
Foci:

of minor axis:

 Eccentricity:

Directrices:
Principal

axis:

Center:

Vertices:

Endpoints of minor axis:

Foci:

 Eccentricity:

Directrices:
Principal

axis: