SUMMARY OF CHAPTER ‘PARABOLA’
A Parabola is locus of a point P which moves such that its distance from a fixed point S (called focus) is
same as its distance from a fixed line (called directrix) i.e. PS = PM , where M is the foot of perpendicular
from P to the fixed line ZM .
Note : General equation of 2nd degree ax 2 + by 2 + 2hxy + 2 gx + 2 fy + c = 0 represents a parabola if
(i) D = abc + 2 fgh - af 2 - bg 2 - ch 2 ¹ 0 (ii) h 2 = ab
Standard Parabolas y2 = 4ax x2 = 4ay
Diagram
Vertex (A) (0, 0) (0, 0)
Focus (S) (a, 0) (0,a)
Axis y= 0 x= 0
Directrix x+a =0 y+a =0
Equation of Latus Rectum(L1L2) x–a =0 y–a =0
Length of Latus Rectum(L1L2) 4a 4a
Extremities of Latus Rectum(L1L2) (a, 2a); (a, –2a) (2a, a) ; (–2a, a)
Focal distance of (x1, y1) |a + x1| |a + y1|
Parametric equations x = at2, y = 2at x = 2at, y = at2
Tangent at (x1, y1) yy1 = 2a (x + x1) xx1 = 2a (y + y1)
Tangent in parametric form ty = x + at2 tx = y + at2
Tangent in slope form y = mx + a/m y = mx – am2
point of contact of above (a/m2, 2a/m) (2am, am2)
Condition of tangency (for y = mx + c) c = a/m c = –am2
y1 2a
Normal at (x1, y1) y – y1 = – (x – x1) y – y1 = - (x – x1)
2a x1
Normal at ' t ' point y + tx = 2at + at3 ty + x = 2at + at3
Normal in slope form y = mx – 2am – am3 y = mx + 2a + (a/m2)
Foot of above normal (am2, –2am) (–2a/m, a/m2)
Condition of normal(for y = mx + c) c = – 2am – am3 c = 2a + (a/m2)
Director circle (Locus of intersection point x +a= 0 y+a= 0
of perpendicular tangents)
Equation of pair of tangents of a parabola
drawn from a given point (x1, y1) T 2 = SS1 T 2 = SS1
Chord of contact T =0 T =0
Chord of parabola whose mid point is (x1, y1) T = S1 T = S1
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Properties of Parabolas :
(i) Directrix is perpendicular to the axis.
(ii) Vertex of mid point of focus and intersection point of axis and directrix.Distance between vertex
and focus is one fourth of the length of latus rectum.
(iii) The chord parallel to Directrix is called Double ordinate of the Parabola. If a double ordinate
passes through the focus of parabola then it is called as latus rectum.
(iv) The semi latus rectum of a parabola is the H.M. between the segments of any focal
2 PS .SP¢
chord of a parabola i.e. if PSP¢ is a focal chord, then 2a = PS + SP ¢
(v) The tangents drawn at the end points (parametric points) of a focal chord of a parabola are
perpendicular and they meet at the directrix and t1t 2 = -1 i.e. the tangents drawn from a point
of directrix of a parabola are always perpendicular.
(vi) In point of intersection R of tangents at points P and Q on the parabola ,the abscissa is G.M.
of abscissae and ordinate is A.M. of ordinates of P and Q.
(vii) Ð PSR is a right angle, where R is the point where the tangent at P meets the directrix.
(viii) The tangent at P is equally inclined to the axis and the focal chord passes through P.
Equation of normal in terms of m is y = mx - 2am - am3 is a cubic equation in m then in
general at most three normals can pass through a point.The sum of slopes of these normals
is zero and also sum of the ordinates of the feet of normal is zero.
(ix) If the tangent and normal at any point P of parabola meet the axes in T and N respectively,
then ST = SN = SP = PD and ÐDPT = ÐSPT .
2
(x) If the normal at (at12,2at1) meets the parabola again at the point (at22,2at2) then t2= – t1– .
t1
This is called as Normal Chord.
(xi) If a circle intersect a parabola in four points,then the sum of their ordinates is zero.
Other (non-stardard) Parabolas :
(i) Parabola whose axis is parallel to x-axis is ( y - b ) 2 = 4a ( x - a ) where (a , b ) is vertex.
(ii) Parabola whose axis is parallel to y-axis is ( x - a ) 2 = 4 a( y - b ) where (a , b ) is vertex.
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