PARABOLA
Definition and terminology
A parabola is the locus of a point, whose distance
from a fixed point (focus) is equal to perpendicular
distance from a fixed straight line (directrix).
Four standard forms of the parabola are
y² = 4ax; y² = 4ax; x² = 4ay; x² = 4ay
For parabola y2 = 4ax:
(i) Vertex is (0, 0) (ii) focus is (a, 0)
(iii) Axis is y = 0 (iv) Directrix is x + a = 0
Focal Distance: The distance of a point on the parabola from the focus.
Focal Chord : A chord of the parabola, which passes through the focus.
Double Ordinate: A chord of the parabola perpendicular to the axis of the symmetry.
Latus Rectum: A double ordinate passing through the focus or a focal chord perpendicular to the axis
of parabola is called the Latus Rectum (L.R.).
For y² = 4ax. Length of the latus rectum = 4a.
ends of the latus rectum are L(a, 2a) & L’ (a, 2a).
NOTE :
(i) Perpendicular distance from focus on directrix = half the latus rectum.
(ii) Vertex is middle point of the focus & the point of intersection of directrix & axis.
(iii) Two parabolas are said to be equal if they have the same latus rectum.
Parametric representation:
The simplest & the best form of representing the coordinates of a point on the parabola is (at², 2at)
i.e. the equations x = at² & y = 2at together represents the parabola y² = 4ax, t being the parameter.
Parametric form for : y2 = – 4ax (–at2, 2at)
2
x = 4ay (2at , at2)
2
x = – 4ay (2at , – at2)
Position of a point relative to a parabola:
The point (x 1 , y1) lies outside, on or inside the parabola y² = 4ax according as the expression y1² 4ax 1
is positive, zero or negative.
Outside
Inside
P(x1, y1)
S1 : y12 – 4ax1
S1 < 0 Inside
S1 > 0 Outside
Line & a parabola:
The line y = mx + c meets the parabola y² = 4ax in two points real, coincident or imaginary according
as a cm condition of tangency is, c = a/m.
Tangent
Length of the chord intercepted by the parabola Secant
A
on the line y = m x + c is :
4 B
2 a(1 m 2 )(a mc ) .
m
NOTE :
1. The equation of a chord joining t 1 & t 2 is 2x (t 1 + t 2) y + 2 at 1 t 2 = 0.
2. If t 1 & t 2 are the ends of a focal chord of the parabola y² = 4ax then t 1t 2 = 1. Hence the
a 2a
coordinates at the extremities of a focal chord can be taken as (at², 2at) & ,
2 t t
Focal chord
A
S (focus)
B
3. Length of the focal chord making an angle with the x axis is 4acosec²
Tangents to the parabola y² = 4ax :
Equation of tangent at a point on the parabola can be obtained by replacement method or using derivatives.
In replacement method, following changes are made to the second degree equation to obtain T.
x2 x x1, y2 y y1, 2xy xy1 + x1y, 2x x + x1, 2y y + y1
So, it follows that the targents are :
(i) y y1 = 2 a (x + x 1) at the point (x 1, y 1) ;
(ii) y = mx +
a
(m 0) at
a , 2 a
m m2 m
(iii) t y = x + a t² at (at², 2at).
(iv) Point of intersection of the tangents at the point t 1 & t 2 is { at 1 t 2 , a(t 1 + t 2) }.
Normals to the parabola y² = 4ax :
Normal is obtained using the slope of tangent.
2a P
Slope of tangent at (x1 , y1) =
y1 Normal
y1
Slope of normal = –
2a
y1
(i) y y1 = – (x x 1) at (x 1, y 1) ;
2a
(ii) y = mx 2am am 3 at (am 2, 2am)
(iii) y + tx = 2at + at 3 at (at 2, 2at).
NOTE :
(i) Point of intersection of normals at t 1 & t 2 is (a (t 12 + t 22 + t 1t 2 + 2), a t 1 t 2 (t 1 + t 2)).
(ii) If the normals to the parabola y² = 4ax at the
point t 1, meets the parabola again at the point P(t1)
2
t 2, then t 2 = – t 1 .
t 1
Q(t2)
(iii) If the normals to the parabola y² = 4ax at the points t 1 & t 2 intersect again on the parabola at the
point 't 3' then t 1 t 2 = 2; t 3 = (t 1 + t 2) and the line joining t 1 & t 2 passes through a fixed point
(2a, 0).
