Algebra 2 8.

5 Name:_________________ 1
HYPERBOLAS

A hyperbola is the set of all points in a plane such that the absolute value of
the difference of the distances from any point on the hyperbola to 2 given
points, called the foci, is constant.

The two branches of the hyperbola approach asymptotes that are

imaginary lines that the graph approaches but never touches. The center of
the segment connecting the foci is the center of the hyperbola. The point
on each branch that is closest to the center is called the vertex. The
transverse axis is a line segment connecting the two vertices having a
length of 2a units. The center lies on this line segment. The conjugate
axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis intersecting it at the center. Its
length is 2b units.

A hyperbola can have a horizontal or vertical orientation. The standard

equation of a hyperbola centered at the origin is given by

vertices (± a,0) (0, ± a)

foci (± c,0) (0, ± c)
transverse on x-axis, on y-axis,
axis length 2a length 2a

conjugate on y-axis, on x-axis,

axis length 2b length 2b

a, b, and c are related by c2 = a2 + b2

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Example 1: Find the vertices and foci of the hyperbola.

x2 y2 y2
a. − =1 b. − x 2 =1
9 49 25

Example 2: Find the vertices and foci of the hyperbola then sketch the
graph.

c. 25x2 – 4y2 = 100 d. 4x2 – 36y2 + 9 = 0

Hyperbola with center at (h, k):

Standard form of ( x − h) 2 ( y − k ) 2 ( y − k ) 2 ( x − h) 2
Equation − =1 − =1
a2 b2 a2 b2
Direction of Transverse Horizontal Vertical
Axis
Equations of b a
y −k = ± ( x − h) y −k = ± ( x − h)
Asymptotes a b
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Example 3: Find the coordinates of the vertices and foci and the equations
of the asymptotes for the hyperbola with the given equation. Then graph the
hyperbola.

( y + 6) 2 ( x − 1) 2
a) − =1 b) x2 – y2 + 6x + 10y – 17 =
20 25
0

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