Module: _9_ Week:_9_:Quarter:_2_

PARABOLA WITH VERTEX AT THE ORIGIN

Competencies: 1) Illustrates parabola and its properties.

2) Find the equation of parabola based on
the given properties.
3) Sketch the graph of parabola
4) Expresses the equation of parabola in
different forms.
5) Solves word problems involving
parabola.

Let’s Recall! (Review Exercises)

Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on the space
provided before each number.

2
_____1) It is the graph of the quadratic equation of the form y=a x +bx +c .
A) Circle B) ellipse C) Line D) Parabola

_____2) In the quadratic function f ( x )=a x2 +bx + c, what happens to the graph of the function as
the absolute value of a increases?

A) The opening of the graph decreases C) The opening of the graph

increases
B) The graph moves from left to right. D) The graph moves from right to left.

_____3) Which of the following serves as the lowest or the highest point of the of the quadratic
function f ( x )=a x2 +bx + c?

A) Vertex B) Axis of symmetry C) directrix D)

Focus

2
_____4) Which of the following happens when the value of h in the function f ( x )=a ( x−h ) +k
Increases?

A) The opening of its graph increases C) Its graph moves to the right
B) Its graph moves to the left. D) Its graph moves upward.

2
_____5) In the quadratic function f ( x )=a ( x−h ) +k , what happens to its graph when the value of
k decreases?

A) The opening of its graph increases C) Its graph moves to the right
B) Its graph moves to the left. D) Its graph moves downward.
 Let’s Understand! (Study the Concept)

In our preceding lesson, we defined a circle in terms of a set of points. In this lesson, we shall
give names to other sets of points, or curves, and derive the corresponding equations. As in the case of a
circle, the equations will be of the second degree, or quadratic, in two variables.
The general quadratic equation in x and y may be expressed in the form
Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0.

The graph of a second-degree equation in the coordinates x and y is called a conic section or, more
simply, a conic. This designation derives from the fact that the curve can be obtained as the intersection of
a right circular cone and a plane. For this particular lesson, we will limit our discussion with the conic section
of the form A x 2+ Dx + Ey+ F=0C y 2+ Dx+ Ey+ F=0. This part of the conic section is called the
parabola.

Parabola is defined as the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from the fixed point and a
fixed line. The fixed point is what we called focus and the fixed line is what we called directrix. Refer to
the figure below, and let us derive the equation of parabola.

Based on its definition,

[ x +a= √ ( x −a ) +( y−0 )
2 2
]2

( x +a )2= ( x−a )2 + y 2
2 2 2 2 2
x + 2 a x + a =x −2 ax +a + y
2
2 ax +2 ax= y
2
y =4 ax

This is the equation of parabola with vertex at the origin and

Focus at (a, 0). Since a > 0, x may have any positive value or zero, but no negative value. Hence the graph
extends indefinitely far into the first and fourth quadrants, and the axis (axis of symmetry) of the parabola is
the positive x-axis. It is evident from the equation that the parabola is symmetric with respect to its x – axis
because y=±2 ax . √
The chord drawn through the focus and perpendicular to the x – axis is given the Latin name
Latus rectum. The length of the latus rectum can be determined from the coordinates of its endpoints. By
substituting a for x, in the equation y 2=4 ax , we find
2 2
y =4 a and y=±2 a
Hence, the endpoints are (a, -2a) and (a, 2a). This makes the length of the latus rectum equals to 4a. The
vertex and the extremities of the latus rectum are sufficient for drawing a rough sketch of the parabola.
 Similarly we have the remaining graphs of other parabolas whose vertex lies at the origin and these
are as follows:

Given that y2 = 4ax and a < 0.

Given that x2 = 4ay and a > 0, we have

2
Given that x =4 ay∧a<0

Let us summarize these using a table.

Vertex (0, 0)

Std. Value openin Endpoints of Equation Equation LENGTH

Equation of a g Focus Latus rectum of axis of Directrix LATUS
symmetr RECTUM
y

2
x =4 ay
 2
x =4 ay a>0 (0, a) (-2a, (2a, x=0 y=-a 4a
a) a)
2
x =4 ay a<0  (0, -a) (-2a, (2a, - X=0 y=a 4a
2 -a) a)
2
y =4 ax a>0 x =4 ay(a, 0) (a, - (a, Y=0 x = -a 4a
 2a) 2a)
2 a<0 2
x =4 ay
(-a, 0) (-a, - (-a, Y=0 x=a 4a
y =4 ax 2
x =4 ay 2a) 2a)

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

1) Write the equation of parabola with vertex at the origin and the focus at (0, 4). Graph the parabola.

Solution:
Since the focus is located above the vertex, the
Parabola opens upward. Given that a = 4, then
X2 = 4ay x2 = 4(4)y x2 = 16y

How to graph a parabola.

x2 = 16y Express in standard form

4a = 16 width of latus rectum
a=4 Solve for a
Vertex:(0, 0) Identify the vertex
Upward Identify the opening (since a>0)
Focus:(0, 4) Plot the focus. From the focus, plot
the endpoints of the latus rectum
From the vertex, trace a smooth curve
to the endpoints of the latus rectum.

2) A parabola has its vertex at the origin, its axis along the x-axis, and passes through the point
(-3, 6). Find the equation. And sketch its graph.

Solution: The equation of parabola is y2 = 4ax since its axis is along the x – axis. To
determine the value of 4a, we substitute the coordinates of the given point in this
equation

(6)2 = 4a(-3) 4a = -12 a = -3

Thus, the required equation is y2 = -12x

3) The equation of parabola is x2 = -6y. Find the coordinates

of the focus, the equation of directrix, the length of latus rectum
and the coordinates of the endpoints of the latus rectum.
 Solution: The opening of the parabola is downward.

Length of latus rectum is 6

4a = 6 a = 1.5

Coordinates of focus (0, -1.5)

Endpoints of latus rectum: (-3, -1.5) & (3, -1.5)

4) Show that the parabola x2 = -6y represents an increasing function on the interval (-∞, 0) of all
negative real numbers.

−1 2 −1 2
Solution: We must show that if x1 < x2 < 0, then x > x . But if x1 < x2 < 0, it follows that
6 1 6 2
2 2 −1
x 2 < x1 . Multiplication by negative number reverse the inequality again, so
6
−1 2 1 2
x ← x
6 1 6 2
−1 2
This means that if y=f ( x )= x and if x1 < x2 < 0, then f(x1) < f(x2).
6

5) A cable suspended from supports that are of the same height and 600 ft apart has a sag of 100 ft.
If the cable hangs in the form of parabola, find its equation, taking the origin at the lowest point.

Solution:
(-300, 100) (300, 100)

X2 = 4ay

3002 = 4a(100)

90, 000 = 4a(100)

4a = 900

X2 = 900 y

6) A searchlight has a parabolic reflector (has a cross section that forms a bowl). The parabolic
“bowl” is 16 inches wide from rim to rim and 12 inches deep. The filament of the lightbulb is located
at the focus. What is the equation of the parabola used for reflector and how far from the vertex is
the filament of the lightbulb?

Solution: (-8, 12) (8, 12)

2
x = 4ay

64 = 4a(12)
 64 4
a= =
48 3
64 2 16
The equation is : x2 = y or x= y or 3x2 = 16y
12 3
The filament of the lightbulb should be placed 4/3 inches
above the vertex.
(VERTEX (0,0)

7) The cross section of a satellite dish is a parabola. Signals from the satellite strike the surface of
the dish and are reflected to a single point (Focus), where the receiver is located. If the dish is 12 ft
across, and is 2 ft deep at its center, at what position should the receiver be placed?

Solution: Place the vertex at the lowest point.

(-6, 2) (6, 2)
2
x = 4ay x=6 ; y =2
36 = 4a(2)
4a = 18
a = 4.5
The receiver should be placed 4.5 ft above the vertex. Specifically at (0, 4.5).

Let’s Practice ! (Practice Exercises)

A. Sketch the graph of the following parabolas. Identify the coordinates of the vertex, the focus
and the endpoints of the latus rectum. Also, find the equation of the directrix and the axis of
symmetry.

1) y2 = 4x 2) x2 = -16y 3) x2 = 8y 4) y2 = -12x

Let’s Analyze! (Critical Thinking)

Find the equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin that satisfies the given conditions.

5) Focus at (3, 0)

6) Directrix is x + 4 = 0

7) The length of the latus rectum is 10 and the parabola opens to the right.

8) The focus is on the x – axis and the parabola passes through the point (-3, 4).
 9) The endpoints of the latus rectum are ( -4, 0) & (4, 0) and the parabola opens
downward.

10) The cables of a suspension bridge are in the shape of a parabola. The towers
supporting the cable are 400 ft apart and 100 ft high. If the cables are at a height
of 10 feet midway between the towers, what is the height of the cables at a point
50 feet from the center of the bridge?

Let’s Try! (Evaluation)

Module: _9_ Week:_9_:Quarter:_2_

PARABOLA WITH VERTEX AT THE ORIGIN

Competencies: 1) Illustrates parabola

2) Find the equation of parabola based on the given properties.
3) Sketch the graph of parabola
4) Expresses the equation of parabola in different forms.
5) Solves word problems involving parabola.

Student’s Name: ____________________ Teacher: ______________

Gr. & Section: ____________ Date: _____________

A. Draw the graph of each of the given parabola below. Identify the coordinates of the vertex, the
focus and the endpoints of the latus rectum. Also, give the equation of the axis of symmetry and
the equation of its directrix. Lastly, find the length of the latus rectum.

2 2
1)x =2 y 2) x =−6 y
3) y 2=10 x 4) y 2=−20 x

B. Write the equation of parabola in standard form with the vertex at the origin and satisfies the given
conditions.

5) The focus at (6, 0)

6) The equation of its directrix is y = - 4

7) The length of latus rectum is 4 and the parabola opens to the right.

8) The parabola opens to the right and passes through the point (3, -4).
C. Solve what is being asked.

9) A cable is suspended from supports that are the same height and 2000 feet apart. Has a sag
of 800 feet. If the cable hangs in the form of parabola, taking the origin as the lowest point, find the
width of the cable at a height 50 feet above the lowest point.

10). A satellite dish shaped like a paraboloid has its receiver located at the focus. How far is the
receiver from its vertex if the dish is 20 ft across and 6 feet deep at the center?

PARENT’S SIGNATURE