Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Conics Sections
(Hyperbola and Eccentricity)
Mathematics 54Elementary Analysis 2

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines-Diliman

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Hyperbola
A hyperbola is a set of points in the plane whose distances from two fixed
points (focuses/foci) have a constant difference.

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Equation of a Hyperbola

Foci : F1 = (c, 0) and F2 = (c, 0)

Vertices : V1 = (a, 0) and V2 = (a, 0)
From the above figure and from the definition of the hyperbola we have
p
p
(x + c)2 + y 2 (x c)2 + y 2 = constant2a
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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Equation of a Hyperbola
Simplifying, we get
y2
x2

=1
a2 c 2 a2

Since c > a , we can let b2 = c2 a2 . Thus, obtaining

x2 y 2

=1
a2 b2
The rectangle formed above is called the auxiliary rectangle of the
hyperbola.

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Equation of a Hyperbola
If we solve for y in terms of x we get
s
y=

x2 b2
b2
a2

Consider the lines y = ab x and y = ab x. It is easy to show that:

s
lim

x+

s
lim

x2 b2
b
b2 x = 0
a2
a

x2 b2
b
b2 x = 0
a2
a

These tell us that the lines y = ab x are asymptotes of the given hyperbola.
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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Equation of a Hyperbola
In general, a hyperbola centered at the origin has form:
y 2 x2

=1
a2 b2

x2 y 2

=1
a2 b2

Foci: (c,0), (-c,0)

Foci: (0,c), (0,-c)

Vertices: (horizontal transverse axis)

(a, 0), (a, 0)

Vertices: (vertical transverse axis)

(0, a), (0, a)

Note:
In either case, a2 + b2 = c2
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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Hyperbola
Example
Sketch the graph of x2 y 2 = 4. Identify the foci.
Solution. The equation can be written as

x2 y 2

= 1.
2 2 22

Hence, a = 2, b = 2, and transverse axis is horizontal, with center at (0, 0).

vertices : V1 (2, 0), V2 (2, 0)
draw the auxiliary rectangle
draw the asymptotes
p
c2 = a2 + b2 = 22 + 22 = 8= (2 2)2
p
p
foci : F1 (2 2, 0), F2 (2 2, 0)

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Hyperbola
Example
Sketch the graph of 9y 2 4x2 = 144. Identify the foci.
Solution. The equation can be written as

y 2 x2

= 1.
42 62

Hence, a = 4, b = 6, and transverse axis is vertical, with center at (0, 0).

vertices : V1 (0, 4), V2 (0, 4)

draw the auxiliary rectangle
draw the asymptotes
p
c2 = a2 +b2 = 42 +62 = 52= (2 13)2
p
p
foci : F1 (0, 2 13), F2 (0, 2 13)

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Equation of a Hyperbola
In general, a hyperbola cenered at (h, k) has the form:
(x h)2 (y k)2

=1
a2
b2

Vertices
(h a, k)

Transverse Axis
horizontal

(y k)2 (x h)2

=1
a2
b2

Vertices
(h, k a)

Transverse Axis
vertical

Note:
a2 + b2 = c2 and the asymptotes are shifted as well.
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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Example
Find the equations of the hyperbola centered at (1, 3) having its foci at
(1, 5) and (1, 1) and its vertices at (1, 2) and (1, 4) and its asymptotes.
Solution:
Since the center is at (1, 3), then h = 1 and k = 3, So we have
3 + b = 2

and

3 b = 4

a2 + b2 = 1

and

Thus, b = 1. Also,
3 +
p
Hence, a = 3.

p
a2 + b2 = 5

Therefore, the hyperbola has the equation

(y + 3)2 (x 1)2
p
= 1.
12
( 3)2
Moreover, its asymptotes are
1
y (3) = p (x 1)
3
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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Equation of a Hyperbola
Example
Find the equation of the hyperbola with foci (1, 1) and (4, 1) and vertices
(0, 1) and (3, 1).
Solution:
Half-way between the vertices (or foci) is the center, i.e.,

2,1

a is the distance from the center to a vertex. i.e., a = 32 .

Also, c is the distance from the center to a focus. i.e., c = 52 .
Since, a2 + b2 = c2 = b2 =

25
4

94 =

16
4

= 4.

Since the transverse axis is horizontal, the equation is

2
4 x 23
9

(y 1)2
= 1.
4

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Exercises
1

Identify the following conic sections.

a. 2x2 3y 2 + 4x + 6y 1 = 0
b. 2x2 + 3y 2 + 16x 18y 53 = 0
c. 9x + y 2 + 4y 5 = 0
d. 4x2 x = y 2 + 1
e. 7y y 2 x = 0

Sketch the graph of the following hyperbolas:

a. x2 16y 2 = 4
b. 4y 2 (x + 3)2 = 16
c. (x 1)2 + 36y 2 = 9
d. x2 y 2 + 6x 4y = 4

Determine the equation of the hyperbola having (2, 1) as its foci and
has a conjugate axis of length 3.

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Eccentricity
For the parabola, we define the eccentricity e to be e = 1.
For the ellipse and hyperbola, we define eccentricity to be
e=

distance between foci

2c c
=
=
distance between vertices 2a a

Hence, we have
0<e<1

ellipse

e=1

parabola

e>1

hyperbola

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Consider the ellipse

Exercises

x
y
+ 2 = 1.
2
a
b

a a2
=
to the
e
c
right and to the left, from the center, are the directrices of this ellipse.
The lines parallel to the minor axis of this ellipse of distance

Let D1 be the directrix nearest the focus F1 and let D2 be the directrix
nearest the focus F2 . This pairing will be referred to as the focus-directrix
pairing.
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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Focus-Directrix Equation
Let P(x, y) be a point on the ellipse, and F2 (c, 0) be a focus.
s
q
b2
PF2 =
(x + c)2 + y 2 = (x + ae)2 + b2 2 x2
a
s
2 2
3
4 2
2 2
2 2
a x + 2a ex + a e + a b b x
=
a2
s
c2 x2 + 2a3 ex + a4 e2 + a2 b2
=
a2
s
a2 e2 x2 + 2a3 ex + a4 e2 + a2 b2
=
a2
p
=
e2 x2 + 2aex + a2 e2 + b2
p
=
e2 x2 + 2aex + c2 + b2
p
=
e2 x2 + 2aex + a2
s
s

a
a 2

a 2
a

2
= e x +2 x+
=e x
= e x = e PD2
e
e
e
e
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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Focus-Directrix Equation
Thus, if P is a point on the ellipse then
PF1
=e
PD1

PF2
=e
PD2

Remember: 0 < e < 1

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Focus-Directrix Equation

Consider the hyperbola

(x h)2 (y k)2

= 1.
a2
b2

The lines perpendicular to the transverse axis of the hyperbola of distance

a
a2
e = c to the right and to the left of the center are the directrices of this
hyperbola.
Let D1 be the directrix nearest the focus F1 and let D2 be the directrix
nearest the focus F2 . This pairing will be referred to as the focus-directrix
pairing.

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Focus-Directrix Equation
Similarly, if P is a point on the hyperbola,then
PF1
=e
PD1

PF2
=e
PD2

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Focus-Directrix Equation

Hence, for any focus-directrix pair in a parabola, ellipse, or hyperbola, we

have the following equation
PF
= e PF = e PD
PD
Either of this equation is referred to as the focus-directrix equation.

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Hyperbola Eccentricity Focus-Directrix Equation

Exercises

Exercises

Determine the eccentricity of the following conic sections.

1

2x2 3y 2 + 4x + 6y 1 = 0.

2x2 + 3y 2 + 16x 18y 53 = 0.

9x + y 2 + 4y 5 = 0.

4x2 x = y 2 + 1.

7y y 2 x = 0.

y 2 4x2 + 4x = 2.

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