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Intro To Parabolas

A parabola is defined as the set of points equidistant from a fixed point called the focus and a fixed line called the directrix. The distance between the focus and vertex or directrix and vertex is represented by the parameter 'a'. The standard equation of a parabola is derived from this definition as y2 = 4ax. This equation can be manipulated to find other properties of parabolas, such as the equations of tangents, normals, pairs of tangents, and chords.

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Zulfiqar Zulfiqar
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481 views

Intro To Parabolas

A parabola is defined as the set of points equidistant from a fixed point called the focus and a fixed line called the directrix. The distance between the focus and vertex or directrix and vertex is represented by the parameter 'a'. The standard equation of a parabola is derived from this definition as y2 = 4ax. This equation can be manipulated to find other properties of parabolas, such as the equations of tangents, normals, pairs of tangents, and chords.

Uploaded by

Zulfiqar Zulfiqar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A parabola is formed by the

intersection of a plane with a


cone when the cone intersects
parallel to the slant height of
the cone.
On a cartesian plane, the set
The distance from the
of points that describe a focus to the vertex or
parabola is defined using a from the directrix to
point called the FOCUS and a the vertex is ‘a’. This
line called the DIRECTRIX. value plays a role in
The distance of a given point defining the equation of
on the parabola from the focus the parabola.
is equal to the distance of that FOCUS
same point to the directrix.
VERTEX
When that point is the vertex
that distance has a special
significance. It defines an
important parameter for the
parabola known as ‘a’.
DIRECTRIX
Definition of Parabola
A parabola is the locus of a variable point on a
plane so that its distance from a fixed point
(the focus) is equal to its distance from a
fixed line (the directrix x = - a).

y
N(-a,y)
P(x,y)

M(-a,0) O focus F(a,0) x


From the definition of parabola,
PF = PN
( x  a)  y  x  a
2 2

( x  a)  y  ( x  a)
2 2 2

x  2ax  a  y  x  2ax  a
2 2 2 2 2

y  4ax
2

standard equation of a parabola


‘a’ is positive
The equation for a parabola with a vertex at the
origin can have one of two formats depending on
whether it opens vertically or horizontally.

y2 = 4ax
‘a’ is positive ‘a’ is negative
In other form

‘a’ is negative

x2 = 4ay
‘a’ is
positive
Equation of tangent

CHORD SECANT
TANGENT

Equation of the tangent at the point P(x1,y1) to the


parabola y2=4ax
is given by ;
yy1=2a(x+x1)

Slope of tangent = 2a/y1


Equation of normal

NORMAL

Equation of the normal at the point P(x1,y1) to the


parabola y2=4ax
is given by ;
y - y1 = y1 / 2a ( x - x1 )

Slope of normal = -y1/ 2a


Equation of tangent and normal in parametric form

Equation of the tangent to y2 = 4ax at the point


(at2, 2at) is given by:
yt = x+at2

Equation of the normal to y2 = 4ax at the point (at2,


2at) is given by:
y = –tx + 2at + at3.
Equation of normal in slope form

Equation of the normal to y2 = 4ax in slope form is given by:


y = mx - 2am - am3,
where m is the parameter and (am2, -2am) is the point of
contact.
This cubic in m has three roots say; m1, m2, m3, which shows that
three normals can be drawn from any point to a parabola of which
at least one must be real for imaginary roots of an equation with
real coefficients occur in conjugate pairs.
Also, m1+ m2+ m3 = 0 i.e. the sum of the ordinates of the feet of
the normals from a given point is zero.
Equation of pair of tangents and chord of contact

PAIR OF TANGENTS
CHORD OF CONTACT

Combined equation of the pair of the tangents at the point


P(x1,y1) to the parabola y2=4ax is given by:
(y2-4ax)(y12-4ax1) = [yy1-2a(x+x1)]2

and equation of chord of contact is given by:

yy1=2a(x+x1)
Equation of chord in terms of its mid point.

Equation of the chord of the parabola y2=4ax whose


mid point is P(x1,y1) is given by ;
yy1-( x + x1 ) = y12 – 4ax1
Parabolas show up in the architecture of bridges, in fountains etc

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