Asymptotes and properties of Asymptotes

Definition: If the length of the perpendicular from a point on the hyperbola to a straight line tends to 0 as
the point on the hyperbola moves to infinity along the hyperbola then the straight line is called the asymptote
of the hyperbola.
Let
2 2 2
mx y a m b = be a tangent to the hyperbola. If
2
2
2
b
m
a
= then the equation becomes
y mx = i.e it passes through the origin.
To find the point of tangency we compare
sec tan
1
x y
a b
u u
= with y mx = .
i.e
tan sec
1 cot
sin
y x bx
y b
b a a
u u
u
u
= = . Now since the intercept is zero it implies that cotu
must be zero so 90 90
o o
or u = .
It implies that the eccentric angle of the point of tangency is 90
o
or -90
o
i.e the point of tangent lies at
infinity.
So the line y = mx where
2
2
2
b
m
a
= is tangent to the hyperbola such that the point of tangency is at
infinity.



So the lines &
b b
y x y x
a a

= = are called the asymptotes of the hyperbola.

Properties of asymptotes
(i) Equilateral Hyperbola Rectangular Hyperbola. When b = a then the equation of the
asymptotes becomes y x = , i.e they are at right angles to each other.
(ii) If a hyperbola is equilateral then its conjugate is also equilateral
(iii) A hyperbola and its conjugate have the same asymptotes
The equation of the asymptotes are
b
y x
a
= . For a non-standard hyperbola the equation of the
asymptotes will be
B
Y X
A
= . Now in case of the conjugate hyperbola Y = x. X = y, A = b, B =
a. So the equation of the asymptotes will be , .
a b
x y i e y x
b a
= = , which is the same as that
of the standard hyperbola.
(iv) The equation of the pair of asymptotes differ from the equation of the hyperbola and the
conjugate hyperbola by the same constant.
The equation of the 2 asymptotes are 0 & 0
b b
y x y x
a a
+ = = i.e 0 & 0
x y x y
a b a b
= + = .
Hence the equation of the pair of asymptotes would be

2 2
2 2
0 0
x y x y x y
a b a b a b
| || |
+ = =
| |
\ .\ .
.
The equation of the hyperbola is
2 2
2 2
1
x y
a b
= .
2 2
2 2
1
X Y
general
A B
| |
=
|
|
\ .

The equation of the pair of asymptotes is
2 2
2 2
0
x y
a b
=
2 2
2 2
0
X Y
general
A B
| |
=
|
|
\ .

The equation of conjugate hyperbola is
2 2
2 2
1
x y
a b
=
2 2
2 2
1
X Y
general
A B
| |
=
|
|
\ .
Hence we can
say that the equation of the hyperbola and Pair of asymptotes differs by a constant and the
equation of the pair of asymptotes and the conjugate hyperbola differs by the same constant.

If (Hyperbola)
2 2
2 2
1
X Y
S
A B
, (P.O.A)
2 2
2 2
X Y
A
A B
and (conjugate hyperbola)
2 2
2 2
1
X Y
S
A B
+ , we can say that 2 S S A + =
(v) The asymptotes pass through the centre of the hyperbola and the bisectors of the angles between
the asymptotes are the axes of the hyperbola.
(vi) The asymptotes of a hyperbola are the diagonals of the rectangle formed by the lines drawn
through the extremities of each axis parallel to the other.
Tangents at the vertices A, A` to the std.
Hyperbola are drawn. ( x a = ).Tangents at
the vertices B, B` of the conjugate
hyperbola are drawn. ( y b = ). A rectangle
is formed whose diagonals are the asymptotes.

(vii) Asymptotes are the tangent
to the hyperbola from the centre.
(viii) A simple method to find the
coordinates of the centre of the hyperbola expressed as 0 S = is to solve 0 & 0
S S
x y
c c
= =
c c

simultaneously.

PROPERTIES
Property#1: If any line y mx c = + cuts the hyperbola and the pair of asymptotes. Then the midpoint of the
portion of the line intercepted by the hyperbola is the same as the midpoint of the portion of the line
intercepted between the pair of asymptotes.
Diagram:






Proof: Let
( ) ( )
1 1 2 2
, &Q , P x y x y be the points of intersection of the line y mx c = + with the hyperbola
2 2
2 2
1
x y
a b
= . We solve the 2 equations simultaneously.
( )
2
2
2 2
1
mx c
x
a b
+
= .

2 2
2
2 2 2 2
1 2
1 0
m mc c
x x
a b b b
| |
| |
=
|
|
|
\ .
\ .
.
The sum of the roots
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
1 2
1 2
2 2
2 2 2 2
2
2
1 1
mc mc
x x
b b
x x
m m
a b a b
+
+ = =

.
And
1 2 1 2
2 2
y y x x
m c
+ +
| |
= +
|
\ .
. Hence we have obtained the coordinates of the midpoint of PQ.
Now let
( ) ( )
3 3 4 4
, & , R x y S x y be the points of intersection of the line y mx c = + with the pair of
asymptotes
2 2
2 2
1
x y
a b
= . We solve the 2 equations simultaneously.
( )
2
2
2 2
0
mx c
x
a b
+
= .

2 2
2
2 2 2 2
1 2
0
m mc c
x x
a b b b
| |
| |
=
|
|
|
\ .
\ .
.The sum of the roots
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
3 4
3 4
2 2
2 2 2 2
2
2
1 1
mc mc
x x
b b
x x
m m
a b a b
+
+ = =

.
And
3 4 3 4
2 2
y y x x
m c
+ +
| |
= +
|
\ .
. Hence we have obtained the coordinates of the midpoint of RS. From the
values we can see that the midpoint of PQ and RS are the same. HENCE PROVED
NOTE: If the line y = mx + c happens to be the tangent to the hyperbola then the points PQ will coincide.
And the midpoint of RS will be the point of tangency itself.

Property#2: If from any point on the asymptote a straight line be drawn perpendicular to the transverse
axis, the product of the segments of this lines, intercepted between the point and the curve is always
equation to the square of the semi conjugate axis.
Diagram:







Proof: Let
( ) ( ) sec , tan & sec , tan P a b Q a b u u u u . So the coordinates of the point on the asymptote
( ) sec , bsec R a u u .
Length
( ) ( ) sec tan & sec tan PR b QR b u u u u = = + . So the product
( )
( )
2 2 2 2
( ) sec tan PR QR b b u u = =
Hence Proved.

Property#3: Perpendicular drawn from the foci on either asymptote lies is the same as the intersection of
the auxiliary circle and the corresponding directrix.
Diagram:






Proof: The coordinates of the foot of perpendicular from the focus
( ) , o ae onto the asymptote 0
b
y x
a
=
is given by
( )
2
2
2
0
0
1
1
b
ae
x ae y a
b
b
a
a
| |

|

\ .
= =

+
.
2 2
2 2 2 2
1
&
x ae y a be a be b
b
e a b a e
a
a b
x y
e e

= = = =
+
= =

The coordinates of the foot of perpendicular are ,
a b
e e
| |
|
\ .
. This lies on the directrix
a
x
e
= as well as the
auxiliary circle
2 2 2
x y a + = .









Property#3: The tangent at any point P on a hyperbola
2 2
2 2
1
x y
a b
= with centre C, meets the asymptotes in
Q and R and cuts of a CQR A of constant are equal to ab from the asymptotes and the portion of the
tangent intercepted between the asymptote is bisected at the point of contact. The locus of the circumcenter
of CQR A is
( ) ( )
2
2 2 2 2 2 2
4 a x b y a b = + and for the rectangular hyperbola (i.e if a = b) the locus is the
hyperbola itself.
Diagram:






Proof: We have already proved from property#1 that he midpoint of the portion of the tangent between the
asymptotes is bisected by the point of tangency.
We will find the area of CQR A .
The equation of the tangent at ( )
sec tan
1
x y
P is
a b
u u
u = and that of the asymptotes are
b
y x
a
= .
We solve them simultaneously to find the point of intersection. We get
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
a , b & a , b
sec & tan
Q S T S T R S T S T
where S is T is u u
+ +

As we can see from these coordinates that the mid-point of QR is P.
Area of CQR A is given by the formula
1 1
2 2
3 3
1
1
1
2
1
x y
x y
x y
.
Area =
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
0 0 1
1 1
1
2 2
1
a S T b S T ab S T ab S T ab
a S T b S T
+ + = =



Hence the area is always constant ab.

Let the circumcentre of CQR A be M
( )
, h k . So CM MQ MR = = .
So ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
2 2
h k h a S T k b S T h a S T k b S T + = + + + = + + .
We solve these equations simultaneously and we get
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
2 2 & 2 2 a b S T kb ha a b S T ha kb + + = + + =
Multiplying the 2 equations and using the fact that
( )
2 2
1 S T = we get
( ) ( )
2
2 2 2 2 2 2
4 a b h a k b + = hence the locus is
( ) ( )
2
2 2 2 2 2 2
4 a b x a y b + = .
We can easily see that if a b = then the locus becomes the hyperbola itself and that is evident bcause
in a rectangular hyperbola the asymptotes are at right angles hence the circumcentre is the mid-point
of the hypotenuse, which is the point of tangency.


Property#4: If the angle between the asymptote of a hyperbola is 2u then the eccentricity of the hyperbola
e =secu .