C

Introduction to
Conic Sections
H
 General Form of a Conic
Equation
We usually see conic equations written in
General, or Implicit Form:

Ax  Bxy  Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2 2

where A, B, C, D, E and F are integers and A, B and C are

NOT ALL equal to zero.
Please Note:
A conic equation written in General Form doesn’t
have to have all SIX terms! Several of the
coefficients A, B, C, D, E and F can equal zero, as
long as A, B and C don’t ALL equal zero.
If A, B and C all equal zero, what kind of
equation do you have?
Dx  Ey  F  0
... T H I N K...
Linear!
So, it’s a conic equation if...
• the highest degree (power) of x and/or y is 2
(at least ONE has to be squared)

• the other terms are either linear, constant, or the

product of x and y

• there are no variable terms with rational exponents

(i.e. no radical expressions) or terms with negative
exponents (i.e. no rational expressions)
The values of the coefficients in the conic
equation determine the TYPE of conic.

Ax  Bxy Cy Dx  Ey  F  0

2 2

What values form an Ellipse?

What values form a Hyperbola?
What values form a Parabola?
 Ellipses...
Ax  Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2 2

where A & C have the SAME SIGN

NOTE: There is no Bxy term, and D, E & F may equal zero!

For example: 2x  y  8x  0
2 2

 x  2x  3y  6y  0
2 2

2x  2y  8x  6  0
2 2
 The General Form of the equations can be
Ellipses... converted to Standard Form by
completing the square and dividing so that
the constant = 1.
Ellipses…a special case!
When A & C are the same value as well as the same
sign, the ellipse is the same length in all directions …
it is a ...
Circle!
 Hyperbola...
Ax  Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2 2

where A & C have DIFFERENT signs.

NOTE: There is no Bxy term, and D, E & F may equal zero!

For example: 9x  4y  36x  8y  4  0

2 2

x  y  6y  5  0
2 2

x  10x  4y  8y  5  0
2 2
 The General, or Implicit, Form of the
Hyperbola... equations can be converted to Graphing
Form by completing the square and
dividing so that the constant = 1.
 Parabola... A Parabola can be
oriented 2 different ways:
A parabola is vertical if the equation has an x squared term AND a
linear y term; it may or may not have a linear x term & constant:

Ax  Dx  Ey  F  0
2

A parabola is horizontal if the equation has a y squared term AND

a linear x term; it may or may not have a linear y term & constant:

Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2
Parabola …Vertical
The following equations all represent vertical parabolas in
general form; they all have a squared x term and a linear y
term:

x  4x  y  7  0
2

4x  8x  y  0
2

x  y70
2

x y0
2
Parabola …Horizontal
The following equations all represent horizontal parabolas in
general form, they all have a squared y term and a linear x
term:

y  8y  2x  18  0
2

x  y 3 0
2

3y  6y  x  2  0
2

y x0
2
Parabola …Horizontal
In this example, the signs must be changed at the end so that the x-term is
positive; notice that the negative coefficient of the y squared term makes
the parabola open to the left.

0  x  y2  3 Vertex (3,0)

0  y2  x  3
 x  y2  3
x   y2  3
or
(x  3)   y 2
 What About the term Bxy?
Ax  Bxy  Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2 2

None of the conic equations we have looked at so far included

the term Bxy. This term leads to a hyperbolic graph:

4xy 8  0
or, solved for y:
8 2
y 
4x x
 What About
If there is athe
Bxyterm Bxy?
term:
Ax  Bxy  Cy  Dx  Ey  F  0
2 2

You need to find the discriminant and use that to determine the
conic section.

The graph is a circle (A = C) or an ellipse

B  4 AC  0
2
(A ≠ C)

B  4 AC  0
2
The graph is a parabola

B  4 AC  0
2
The graph is a hyperbola
Summary ...
General Form of a Conic Equation:
where A, B, C, D, E and
Ax 2  Bxy  Cy 2  Dx  Ey  F  0 F are integers and A, B
and C are NOT ALL
equal to zero.

Identifying a Conic Equation:

Conic Equation Stats
Parabola A = 0 or C = 0, but not both.
If A = 0, then the If C = 0, then the
parabola is horizontal. parabola is vertical.
Circle A=C
Ellipse A & C have the same sign.
Hyperbola A & C have different signs.
Practice ...
Identify each of the following equations as a(n):
(a) ellipse (b) circle (c) hyperbola
(d) parabola (e) not a conic

1) x 2  4 y 2  2 x  24 y  33  0
2) 4 x 2  4y 2  9  0
3) x 2  4 x  y  0
4) x 2  y2  2 x  8  0
5) 9x 2  25y 2  54x  50 y  119  0
6) x 2  x  0
7) y 2  8 y  9x  52  0
8) x 2  2 x  y 2  4 y  7  0
Let us Try Again
Identify each of the following equations as a(n):
(a) ellipse (b) circle (c) hyperbola
(d) parabola (e) not a conic
Let us Try Again