Parabola 2

Parabola
Focal Distance
 The distance of any point P from Focus S is focal distance
 Consider y2 = 4ax
 PS = PM
 PS = AM+AP = a+xP
Therefore, Focal Distance is:
a+xp
Minimum Focal Distance
 Focal Distance = a+xp
The minimum value of xp is 0
It is attained at the vertex
 FDmin = a
Example
 Find equation of a circle having center at (1,0), and
touches the parabola y2 = 4x at
exactly one point.
The center of circle ‘O’ (1,0) is also

the focus of the parabola
If the circle touches the parabola

at exactly one point, the radius
should be the focal distance
Example contd.
 Focal distance of this parabola = a = 1
 Radius of circle is 1
Equation of circle is:
(x–1)2 + (y–0)2 = 12
 (x–1)2+y2 = 1
Parametric Coordinates
We assume coordinates of P as:
P is (at2,2at)
t being the parameter
So, P(t) means that P is (at2,2at)

Example
 Let the curve C be the mirror image of the parabola:
y2 = 4x with respect to the line x+y+4 = 0. Find curve C.
Consider a point P(t) on y2 = 4x and let P’(x,y) be the image

on C along the line x+y+4 = 0
Then: (x–t2)/1 = (y–2t)/1 = –2(t2+2t+4)/(12+12)
 x = –2t–4 and y = –t2–4

Example contd.
 We have found parametrically:
x = –2t–4 and y = –t2–4
 t = –(x+4)/2
 y = –[–(x+4)/2]2 – 4
 y+4 = –[(x+4)/2]2
Example
 S is the focus of the parabola y2 = 8x and PQ is common
chord of the circle x2+y2 –2x–4y = 0
and the given parabola.
 Find the area of ∆OPS
Let P(t) be (at2,2at), i.e., (2t2,4t)
P(t) will also satisfy x2+y2 –2x–4y = 0

Example contd.
 4t4+16t2–4t2–16t = 0
This reduces to 4t(t–1)(t2+3t–4) = 0
 t = 0, 1
Let t for P be 1 and t for Q be 0
Because we need to find area ∆OPS
So, P is (2,4)
 Area ∆OPS = 4 units

mOP = (2at–0)/(at2–0) = 2/t
 mOP = 2/t
mPS = (2at–0)/(at2–a)
 mPS = 2t/(t2–1)
 Consider a chord PQ of y2 = 4ax
We have chord from P(t1) and Q(t2)
 mPQ = (2at2–2at1)/(at22–at12)
 mPQ = 2/(t1+t2)
Equation of PQ is given by:
y–2at1 = [2/(t1+t2)](x–at12)
Solving, 2x–(t1+t2)y+2at1t2 = 0
Results to Remember
 Always remember two results:
Chord joining P(t1) and Q(t2):
mPQ = 2/(t1+t2)
PQ: 2x–(t1+t2)y+2at1t2 = 0
Since O is (0,0): mPO = 2/t1

Example
 Let P, O, R be vertices of an equilateral triangle and
also points on the parabola y2 = 4x.
 O is also the vertex of parabola
 Determine the area of ∆POR
mPO = 2/t1 and mOR = 2/t2
2/t1 = tan30˚ = 1/√3

Example contd.
Solving, t1 = 2√3
For y2 = 4x, a = 1
Since P is (t12,2t1)
 OP = [t14+4t12]1/2
= [144 + 48]1/2 = 8√3
 Area = (√3/4)OP2 = 48√3

Easy Way to Remember
 We know that mPQ = 2/(t1+t2)
To remember the equation of PQ: 2x–(t1+t2)y+2at1t2 = 0
dy/dx would be 2/(t1+t2)
So, coefficients of x and y are 2 and –(t1+t2) respectively
Remember the third term ‘2at1t2’ as it is

Example
 For all chords passing through R(k,0), the parametric points
for the end points of the chord are defined as t. Find the
product of the parameters of end points of any of the chord.
PQ: 2x–(t1+t2)y+2at1t2 = 0
Put (k,0) in this equation
 k = –at1t2
 t1t2 = –k/a (Important Result)

Example
 Prove that all chords of a parabola y 2 = 4ax subtending
right angle at vertex pass through a
fixed point.
Homogenize: y2 = 4ax & y = mx+c
 y2 – 4ax(y–mx)/c = 0
 y2 – 4axy/c + 4amx2/c = 0
For perpendicular lines: Coefficient of x 2 + y2 = 0

Example contd.
 y2 – 4axy/c + 4amx2/c = 0
 1 + 4am/c = 0
 c = –4am
Now, y = mx+c = mx – 4am
 y = m(x–4a)
This is a family of lines passing through (4a,0)

Focal Chord
 PQ is a focal chord, passing through the focus S(a,0)
We just saw that for a chord that

passes through (k,0) t1t2 = –k/a
So, for a focal chord: t1t2 = –a/a
 t1t2 = –1
So, if one end of focal chord is ‘t’,

Focal Chord
 Let’s find the length of a focal chord passing through P(t)
For P(t), the other end is Q(–1/t)
P(at2,2at) and Q(a/t2,–2a/t)
Using distance formula, PQ is:
a(t + 1/t)2 — (Remember)
 PQ ≥ 4a [since t+1/t ≥ 2]
Focal Chord
 We have seen that Focal Chord ≥ 4a
When is the focal chord = 4a?
Since focal chord = a(t + 1/t)2
When t = ±1, focal chord = 4a
 Latus Rectum is the focal chord with length 4a
 Latus Rectum is the shortest focal chord

Example
 Find the slope of a focal chord passing through P(t)
Slope of a line passing through P(t1), Q(t2) = 2/(t1+t2)
Since focal chord PQ passes through P(t), parameter for Q is (–

1/t)
 mPQ = 2/[t – 1/t]
= 2t/(t2–1)
Example
 For a focal chord PQ with focus S, prove that:
1/PS + /QS = 1/a
Using distance formula:
PS = a(1+t2) and QS = a(1+t2)/t2
 1/PS = 1/a(1+t2) —(1)
 1/QS = t2/a(1+t2) —(2)
From (1), (2); 1/PS + 1/QS = 1/a

Y P(t1)
P(at2,2at)
y = 4ax
2
trix
re c
Di
O
O X
S(a,0)
(0,0)
Q(a/t2,–2a/t)
Q(t2)
y2 = 4ax
A m
m2 1 P
B
m3
C
Y
y =x A y=x
r
4 r Cr
X
O

Parabola 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Parabola 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Parabola 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Parabola

Therefore, Focal Distance is:

The minimum value of xp is 0

It is attained at the vertex

The center of circle ‘O’ (1,0) is also

If the circle touches the parabola

Equation of circle is:

We assume coordinates of P as:

t being the parameter

So, P(t) means that P is (at2,2at)

Consider a point P(t) on y2 = 4x and let P’(x,y) be the image

Then: (x–t2)/1 = (y–2t)/1 = –2(t2+2t+4)/(12+12)

 x = –2t–4 and y = –t2–4

x = –2t–4 and y = –t2–4

Let P(t) be (at2,2at), i.e., (2t2,4t)

P(t) will also satisfy x2+y2 –2x–4y = 0

This reduces to 4t(t–1)(t2+3t–4) = 0

Let t for P be 1 and t for Q be 0

Because we need to find area ∆OPS

 Area ∆OPS = 4 units

mOP = (2at–0)/(at2–0) = 2/t

We have chord from P(t1) and Q(t2)

Equation of PQ is given by:

Chord joining P(t1) and Q(t2):

Since O is (0,0): mPO = 2/t1

 Determine the area of ∆POR

mPO = 2/t1 and mOR = 2/t2

2/t1 = tan30˚ = 1/√3

= [144 + 48]1/2 = 8√3

 Area = (√3/4)OP2 = 48√3

To remember the equation of PQ: 2x–(t1+t2)y+2at1t2 = 0

dy/dx would be 2/(t1+t2)

So, coefficients of x and y are 2 and –(t1+t2) respectively

Remember the third term ‘2at1t2’ as it is

Put (k,0) in this equation

 t1t2 = –k/a (Important Result)

Homogenize: y2 = 4ax & y = mx+c

For perpendicular lines: Coefficient of x 2 + y2 = 0

Now, y = mx+c = mx – 4am

This is a family of lines passing through (4a,0)

We just saw that for a chord that

So, for a focal chord: t1t2 = –a/a

So, if one end of focal chord is ‘t’,

For P(t), the other end is Q(–1/t)

P(at2,2at) and Q(a/t2,–2a/t)

Using distance formula, PQ is:

a(t + 1/t)2 — (Remember)

When is the focal chord = 4a?

Since focal chord = a(t + 1/t)2

When t = ±1, focal chord = 4a

 Latus Rectum is the focal chord with length 4a

 Latus Rectum is the shortest focal chord

Slope of a line passing through P(t1), Q(t2) = 2/(t1+t2)

Since focal chord PQ passes through P(t), parameter for Q is (–

 mPQ = 2/[t – 1/t]

1/PS + /QS = 1/a

Using distance formula:

PS = a(1+t2) and QS = a(1+t2)/t2

 1/PS = 1/a(1+t2) —(1)

 1/QS = t2/a(1+t2) —(2)