HYPERBOLAS

Learning Objectives
1. define a hyperbola
2. determine the equation of a hyperbola in standard form
3. sketch a hyperbola in a rectangular coordinate system
 Hyperbolas
locus of all points in the plane wherein the absolute difference
of whose distances from two fixed points F and F' is a constant
foci
Standard Equation of a Hyperbola
Let a > c > 0 and b = c 2 + a2 . With center at the origin.

1. foci at F(c, 0) and F'(-c, 0)

x2 y2
vertices at V(a, 0) and V'(-a, 0) 2
− 2=1
a b
2. foci at F(0, c) and F'(0, -c)
y2 x2
vertices at V(0, a) and V'(0, -a) − 2=1
a 2 b
 x2 y2
1. Sketch − = 1 showing its vertices and foci.
9 16

a = 3 b = 4 c = 9 + 16 = 5
F(±5,0) V(±3,0)

2. Find an equation of the hyperbola centered at the origin

with foci at (±7, 0) and vertices at (±5, 0).
c=7 a = 5 b = 49 − 25 = 24
𝐱𝟐 𝐲𝟐
− =𝟏
𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟒
Equation of a Hyperbola in Standard Form
Let a > c > 0 and b = c 2 − a2 . With center C(h,k).

1. foci at F(h+c, k) and F'(h-c, k)

vertices at V(h+a, k) and V'(h-a, k)
(𝐱 − 𝐡)𝟐 (𝐲 − 𝐤)𝟐
𝟐
− 𝟐
=𝟏
𝐚 𝐛
2. foci at F(h, k+c) and F'(h, k-c)
vertices at V(h, k+a) and V'(h, k-a)
(𝐲 − 𝐤)𝟐 (𝐱 − 𝐡)𝟐
𝟐
− 𝟐
=𝟏
𝐚 𝐛
Sketch 16(x – 2)2 – 9(y + 4)2 = 576 showing its vertices and foci.

(𝐱−𝟐)𝟐 (𝐲+𝟒)𝟐
Transform into standard form − =𝟏
𝟑𝟔 𝟔𝟒

C(2, -4)
a = 6 b = 8 c = 36 + 64 = 10
F(2±10, −4) V(2±6, -4)
Endpoints of conjugate axis (2, -4±8)
Equations of asymptotes:
x−2 y−4
= ±
6 8
Find an equation of the hyperbola:
1. having center at (2, 0), a focus at (-5, 0), and a vertex at (5, 0)
c = 2 – (-5) = 7 a=5–2=3 b = 49 + 9 = 40
(𝐱 − 𝟐)𝟐 𝐲 𝟐
− =𝟏
𝟗 𝟒𝟎
2. having (-5, -3) and (4, -3) as endpoints of its conjugate axis
and whose transverse axis is as long as the conjugate axis
1
Center = md of conjugate axis: − , −3
2
4−(−5) 9 1
b= = x=− a=b
2 2 2
𝟐
𝟏
(𝐲 + 𝟑)𝟐 𝐱+
− 𝟐 =𝟏
𝟖𝟏 𝟖𝟏
𝟒 𝟒
Exercises
Sketch the following equations:
1. 16𝑥 2 − 81𝑦 2 − 324 = 0
2. 4𝑥 2 + 25𝑦 2 − 100 = 0
Find an equation for the ellipse:
3. Center at (2,4) and focus (2,6) and (2,8)
4. Vertices at (-1, -5) and (-1, 7) passing thru origin
Find an equation for the hyperbola:
5. Center at (-2,1), major axis: 16 and minor axis: 4
1.

2.