Section 9.

1 Circles and Parabolas

Notes.
Conic Section -intersection of a plane and a double-napped cone (see figure 9.1, page
660). Four basic conics

- - Circle, Ellipse, Parabola, and Hyperbola.

Degenerate Conic - occurs when the plane passes through the vertex of the double-
napped cone (see figure 9.2, page 660). Three degenerate conics

- - point, line, two
intersecting lines.
Definition of a Circle - The set of all points

x, y ( ) in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed
point

h, k ( ) , called the center of the circle. The distance

r between the center and any point

x, y ( ) on the circle is the radius.


r

h, k ( )

x, y ( )
Circle

Standard Form of the Equation of a Circle -

x h ( )
2
+ y k ( )
2
= r
2
Where

h, k ( ) is the center of the circle and

r > 0 is the radius. If the center

h, k ( ) is at the
origin

0, 0 ( ) then you get

x 0 ( )
2
+ y 0 ( )
2
= r
2
or

x
2
+ y
2
= r
2

Definition of a Parabola - the set of all points

x, y ( ) in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed
line, the directrix, and a fixed point, the focus, not on the line. The midpoint between the
focus and the directrix is the vertex, and the line through the focus and the vertex is the axis
of symmetry (or just axis) of the parabola.


h, k ( )

x, y ( )

x axis

d
1

d
1
Directrix
Vertex
Focus
Axis of Symmetry
Standard Form of the Equation of a Parabola -

x h ( )
2
= 4 p y k ( ) - - vertex h, k ( ) opens
up if p > 0
down if p < 0
|

|
has a vertical axis

y k ( )
2
= 4 p x h ( ) - - vertex h, k ( ) opens
right if p > 0
left if p < 0
|

|
has a horizontal axis

p is the distance from the vertex to the focus and the distance from the vertex to the
directrix (see Figure 9.8 on page 663).
Try to get the basic idea of a parabola and use some common sense when finding all the
different parts. Pay attention to what I do in the example problems below.
Example Problems.
#4 page 667 Find the standard form of the equation of the circle with the given
characteristics. Center

6, 3 ( ) point on the circle

2, 4 ( )


x h ( )
2
+ y k ( )
2
= r
2
- - x 6 ( )
2
+ y + 3 ( )
2
= r
2
In order to find

r we need to find the distance from the center to the point on the circle.

d = r = x
2
x
1
( )
2
+ y
2
y
1
( )
2
- - r = 2 6 ( )
2
+ 4 + 3 ( )
2
= 64 + 49 = 113

x 6 ( )
2
+ y + 3 ( )
2
= 113
( )
2
- - x 6 ( )
2
+ y + 3 ( )
2
=113
#6 page 667 Find the standard form of the equation of the circle with the given
characteristics. Center

5, 6 ( ) diameter

4 3


x h ( )
2
+ y k ( )
2
= r
2
- - x 5 ( )
2
+ y + 6 ( )
2
= r
2
In order to find

r we need to take half of the diameter

r =
1
2
4 3 = 2 3

x 5 ( )
2
+ y + 6 ( )
2
= 2 3
( )
2
- - x 5 ( )
2
+ y + 6 ( )
2
=12
#12 page 667 Identify the center and radius of the circle.

x
2
+ y +12 ( )
2
= 24

x h ( )
2
+ y k ( )
2
= r
2
- - x 0 ( )
2
+ y 12 ( )
2
= 24
( )
2
Center

0, 12 ( ) Radius

24 = 4 6 = 2 6
#18 page 667 Write the equation of the circle in standard form. Then identify its center and
radius.

x
2
+ y
2
10x 6y + 25 = 0
In order to put this equation in standard form we must complete the square. Start by
grouping the

x terms and the

y terms. Also move the constant term to the opposite
side.

x
2
10x +
( )
+ y
2
6y +
( )
= 25
Make sure that the leading coefficient is one, then take half of the linear coefficient and square
it.

1
2
10
[
\
|

)
j
2
= 25
1
2
6
[
\
|

)
j
2
= 9 Make sure you add these numbers to both sides.

x
2
10x + 25
( )
+ y
2
6y + 9
( )
= 25 + 25 + 9
x 5 ( )
2
+ y 3 ( )
2
= 3
2
Center

5, 3 ( ) radius

3
#34 page 667 Find the

x and

y intercepts of the graph of the circle.

x + 7 ( )
2
+ y 8 ( )
2
= 4
We find

x intercepts when

y = 0.

x + 7 ( )
2
+ 0 8 ( )
2
= 4
x + 7 ( )
2
+ 64 = 4
x + 7 ( )
2
= 60
|

|
|
|
|
|
Since it is impossible to have something squared equal to a negative number we have no

x intercepts.
We find

y intercepts when

x = 0.

0 + 7 ( )
2
+ y 8 ( )
2
= 4
49 + y 8 ( )
2
= 4
y 8 ( )
2
= 45
|

|
|
|
|
|
Since it is impossible to have something squared equal to a negative number we have no

y intercepts.
This circle has a center of

7,8 ( ) and a radius of 2 so it makes sense that there would be no

x and

y intercepts.
#48 page 668 Find the standard form of the equation of the parabola with the given
characteristic(s) and vertex at the origin. Focus:

0,1 ( )
Plot the vertex and focus on a coordinate plane.


h, k ( )

x, y ( )

x axis
Vertex
Focus

0, 0 ( )

0,1 ( )
Because of the location of the vertex and focus this is a parabola that opens up. That
means the

x part is squared.

p is the distance from the vertex to the focus, therefore

p =1. The equation of the parabola is

x h ( )
2
= 4 p y k ( ) - - x 0 ( )
2
= 4 1 y 0 ( ) - - x
2
= 4 y
#52 page 668 Find the standard form of the equation of the parabola with the given
characteristic(s) and vertex at the origin. Directrix:

x = 3
Plot the vertex and directrix on a coordinate plane (see diagram below).
The parabola does not go through the directrix so it opens to the right which means the

y
part is squared.

p is the distance from the vertex to the directrix and since it opens to the
right

p = 3. The equation of the parabola is

y k ( )
2
= 4 p x h ( ) - - y 0 ( )
2
= 4 3 x 0 ( ) - - y
2
=12x


h, k ( )

x axis
Directrix
Vertex

0, 0 ( )

x = 3
#62 page 668 Find the vertex, focus, and directrix of the parabola and sketch the graph.

x 5 ( ) + y + 4 ( )
2
= 0
We want this in standard form

y k ( )
2
= 4 p x h ( ) - - vertex h, k ( ) opens
right if p > 0
left if p < 0
|

|
has a horizontal axis
so we will subtract

x 5 ( ) from both sides to get

y + 4 ( )
2
= 1 x 5 ( )
Vertex

5, 4 ( )

4p = 1 - - p =
1
4
Because

y is squared and

p is negative this parabola will open left.
The focus will be

1
4
to the left of the vertex

5
1
4
, 4
[
\
|

)
j =
20
4

1
4
, 4
[
\
|

)
j =
19
4
,4
[
\
|

)
j
The directrix will be

1
4
to the right of the vertex

x = 5 +
1
4
=
20
4
+
1
4
=
21
4


x axis

5, 4 ( )

y axis

0, 0 ( )
#72 page 668 Find the vertex, focus, and directrix of the parabola and sketch the graph.

y
2
4x 4 = 0
Separate the

x and

y terms and move the constant to the right side of the equation.

y
2
= 4x + 4
y 0 ( )
2
= 4 x +1 ( )
Vertex

1,0 ( )

4p = 4 - - p =1
Because

y is squared and

p is positive this parabola will open right.
The focus will be 1 to the right of the vertex

1+1,0 ( ) = 0, 0 ( )
The directrix will be 1 to the left of the vertex

x = 11= 2

y intercepts occur when

x = 0
y
2
= 4 0 +1 ( )
y
2
= 4
y = 2
|

|
|
|



x axis

1,0 ( )

y axis

0, 0 ( )
#76 Page 668 Find the standard form of the equation of the parabola with the given
characteristics. Vertex

3, 3 ( ) Focus

3,
9
4
[
\
|

)
j
By plotting these points it should help to determine what form we want (see diagram
below).
The relationship between the vertex and the focus tells me that the

x part will be squared
and the parabola will open up which means

p will be positive. Since

p is the distance from
the vertex to the focus

p = 2
1
4
3 ( ) = 2
1
4
+ 3 =
3
4
.

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


x axis

3, 3 ( )

y axis

0, 0 ( )

3,2
1
4
[
\
|

)
j
#80 page 668 Find the standard form of the equation of the parabola with the given
characteristics. Vertex

2,1 ( ) Directrix

x =1
By plotting the vertex and directrix we should be able to determine what form we want
(see diagram below).


x axis
Directrix

2,1 ( )

y axis

0, 0 ( )

x =1
The relationship between the vertex and the directrix tells me that the

y part will be
squared and the parabola will open left which means

p will be negative. Since

p is the
distance from the vertex to the directrix

p = 2 1 = 3.

y k ( )
2
= 4 p x h ( ) - - y 1 ( )
2
= 4 3 x + 2 ( ) - - y 1 ( )
2
= 12 x + 2 ( )
#82 page 668 Find the standard form of the equation of the parabola with the given
characteristics. Focus

0, 0 ( ) Directrix

y = 4
By plotting the focus and directrix we should be able to determine what form we want (see
diagram below).

Directrix

y axis

0, 0 ( )

y = 4
The vertex will be halfway between the focus and the directrix,

0, 2 ( ) will be the vertex
and this parabola will open down. The

x part will be squared and the parabola will open
down which means

p will be negative. Since

p is the distance from the vertex to the focus

p = 0 2 = 2.

x h ( )
2
= 4 p y k ( ) - - x 0 ( )
2
= 4 2 y 2 ( ) - - x
2
= 8 y 2 ( )

When doing these problems I think it is easier to plot what is given and then use common
sense rather than memorizing a bunch of formulas. You do need to understand when a
parabola will open up, down, right, or left. You also need to understand the relationship
between the vertex, focus, and directrix.

Homework.
page 667/ 1-33 odd, 45-81 odd