Lesson

1 Identifying Conic Sections

From the beginning, we have seen and discussed the different graphs of curves
called conic sections. All conic sections (circle, parabola, ellipse, or hyperbola) can
be obtained as the intersection of a plane from one geometric object −the right
circular cone. In this lesson, we will give a more unified view of conic sections.

What’s In

Activity 1
Let us have a short recap of conic equations. The following were the summary
of standard forms of conic sections. Fill in the blanks and complete the table below.
Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper

Conic Sections Standard Forms of Conic Sections

1. ___________ 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘 or 𝑥 = 𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 + ℎ

2. Circle ______________ + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2

3. Ellipse (𝑥−ℎ)2
+
(𝑦−𝑘)2
= 1 or _____________________ = 1, 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏
𝑎2 𝑏2

4. Hyperbola _________________________ = 1 or
(𝑦−𝑘)2
−
(𝑥−ℎ)2
= 1, 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏
𝑎2 𝑏2

Remember, each conic has its property and identification of its standard
form equation. For us to identify conic sections, we must be familiar with its
equation form first. In this lesson, we will analyze the properties of the different
conic section associated in its general form.

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 What’s New

Activity 2.
Complete the table below. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper

General Form Standard Form Conic Sections

2 2
1. 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 8𝑦 = 33 Circle
2. 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 + 40𝑦 + 7 2
(𝑥− 2)2 + (𝑦 +5)2 =( )
67 = 0 2
3. (𝑦 + 4)2 = −8(𝑥 − 5) Parabola
(𝑥 − 7)2 (𝑦 + 2)2 Ellipse
4. + =1
64 36
5. 𝑦 2 − 5𝑥 + 12𝑦 = −16 Hyperbola

At this point, we determine conics by transforming the given general form to

standard form and vice versa.

To rewrite general form to standard form, we can always collect all terms involving
x and all involving y, complete the squares and then obtain an equation in one of the
forms resembling some conic’s equation.

To rewrite standard form to its general form, remove the grouping symbols, and
simplify the equations by combining like terms while observing MDAS rule at the
same time.

It is after transforming a given general equation to a standard form that we can

identify its graph either as one of the degenerate conic sections (a point, two
intersecting lines, or the empty set) or as one of the non-degenerate conic sections
(circle, parabola, ellipse, or hyperbola).

What is It

The equation of any conic sections can be written in the form of the general
quadratic equation in two variables, x and y, is: 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙𝒚 + 𝑪𝒚𝟐 + 𝑫𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 + 𝑭 = 𝟎
with A, B, C, D, E, and F are constants, and A, B, and C are not all zero. The following
are examples of a second degree equations x and y

a. 4𝑥 2 − 5𝑦 2 − 20𝑥 = 0
b. 𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 0
c. 9𝑥 2 + 5𝑦 2 − 18𝑥 + 10𝑦 − 31 = 0

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 The graphs of this equations are generally an ellipse, a hyperbola, a circle, or
a parabola. However, there exist exceptional cases in which the equation has no
graph at all, or one consisting of a single point, one line, or two intersecting lines.
These exceptions are called degenerate conics.

Conics also possess similar components such as the vertices, the principal
axis, the foci, and somewhat similar equations. Hence, to identify them, we will
familiarize ourselves with the standard forms of the different conic section associated
in its general form.

STANDARD FORMS OF CONIC SECTIONS

Parabola 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘 or 𝑥 = 𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 + ℎ
Circle (𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2
Ellipse (𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2
+ = 1 or + = 1, 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑎2 𝑏2
Hyperbola (𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2
− = 1 or + = 1, 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑎2 𝑏2

I. Identifying the Conic Section by Inspection.

Recalling the general form of the equations of the conic sections in the
previous lessons we have learned

𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑦 2 + 𝐶𝑥 + 𝐷𝑦 + 𝐸 = 0
Did you notice there is no xy term from our previous general form of quadratic
equations? That is because all the conic sections we have studied so far were
horizontal and vertical. Since there is no xy term, their axes are parallel to x and
y axis. Some terms may vanish, depending on the kind of conics section.

(a) Circle: both 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 2 appear, and their coefficients A and B are the same. A=B.
𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑦 2 + 𝐶𝑥 + 𝐷𝑦 + 𝐸 = 0
Example 1: 18𝑥 2 + 18𝑦 2 − 24𝑥 + 48𝑦 − 5 = 0

Degenerate cases: a point, and the empty set.

Example 2:

General Equation Standard equation Graph

1 2 3 2
(A) 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 5 = 0 (𝑥 − ) + (𝑦 + ) = 0 Point
2 2
(B) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥 − 8𝑦 + 50 = 0 (𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 − 4)2 = −25 Empty Set

A circle with equation(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2 , we have 𝑟 2 > 0. This is not the
case for the standard equations of (A) and (B).

In (A), because the sum of two squares can only be 0 if and only if each square
1 3 1 3
is 0, that is 𝑥 − = 0 and 𝑦 + = 0. Hence, the graph has single point( , − ).
2 2 2 2

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 In (B), no real values for x and y can make the nonnegative left side equal to
the negative right side. The graph is then the empty set.

(b) Parabola: exactly one of 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 2 appears

𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝑥 + 𝐷𝑦 + 𝐸 = 0 (D ≠ 0, opens upward or downward)
𝐵𝑦 2 + 𝐶𝑥 + 𝐷𝑦 + 𝐸 = 0 (C ≠ 0, opens to the right or left)
Example 3: 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 5 = 0 (opens downward)

-2𝑦 2 + 3𝑥 + 12𝑦 − 15 = 0 (opens to the right)

(c) Ellipse: both 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 2 appear, and their coefficients A and B have the same
sign and are unequal.
Example 4: 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑦 2 + 8𝑥 − 10𝑦 − 7 = 0 (horizontal major axis)
4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 − 𝑦 + 21 = 0 (Vertical major axis)
Degenerate cases: a point, and the empty set
(d) Hyperbola: both 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 2 appear, and their coefficients A and B have different
signs.
Example 5: 5𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 2 − 20𝑥 − 18𝑦 − 22 = 0 (horizontal transverse axis)
−4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 246𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 36 = 0 (Vertical transverse axis)
Degenerate case: two intersecting lines.
Degenerate Conics: The following examples will show the possible degenerate
conic (a point, two intersecting lines, or the empty set) as the graph of an equation
following a similar pattern as the non-degenerate cases.

(𝑥−2)2 2
Example 6: 4𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 + 18𝑦 + 25 = 0 2 + (𝑦+12 ) = 0
3 2

One point (2, -1)

(𝑥−2)2 2
Example 7: 4𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 + 18𝑦 + 61 = 0 2 + (𝑦+12 ) = −1
3 2

Empty set

(𝑥−2)2 (𝑦+1)2
Example 8: 4𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 + 18𝑦 + 7 = 0 + =0
32 22
2
Two lines: 𝑦 + 1 = ± (𝑥 − 2)
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Example 9: Determine the graph of the given equation.

1. 4𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2 − 32𝑥 + 8𝑦 + 124 = 0
2. 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 8 = 0
3. 25𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 100𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 190 =0

Solution:

1. 4𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2 − 32𝑥 + 8𝑦 + 124 = 0
𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 31 = 0 Divide both sides by 4.
(𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16) − (𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1) = −31 + 16 − 1 Completing the square.

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 (𝑥 − 4)2 − (𝑦 − 1)2 = −16 The standard form of a
hyperbola

So, the graph is a hyperbola

2. 𝑥2
+ 4𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 8 = 0
-Completing the square for x only, we get (𝑥 + 2)2 + 4𝑦 = 12. Hence, the graph is
a parabola.

3. 25𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 100𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 190 =0

25(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 ) + (𝑦 2 + 6𝑦) = −190 Factor out coefficients of
the square.
25(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4) + (𝑦 2 + 6𝑦 + 9) = −190 + 25(4) + 9 Completing the square.
25(𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 + 3)2 = −81
Unlike the first item, the left-hand side is a sum of squares (+). So, it cannot be
negative. Thus, the graph of this equation is the empty set.

II. Identifying the Conic Section by using the Discriminant.

This method is quite helpful if the given general quadratic equation has a
numerical coefficient not equal to 0 in the xy term. The presence of xy term results
in a rotated graph and is covered in trigonometry or higher analytic geometry course.
The advantage of this method to the first one in recognizing conics is we do
not need to rewrite the given general equation to the standard equation similar to the
conics. Instead, we can determine what type of conics an equation of the form 𝐴𝑥2 +
𝐵𝑥𝑦 + 𝐶𝑦2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 by looking at A and C.
A. If an xy term exists, meaning B ≠ 0, and
(a) 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 < 0, the conic is an ellipse;
(b) 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 = 0, the conic is a parabola;
(c) 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 > 0, the conic is a hyperbola.
B. If no xy term exists, meaning B = 0, and
(a) A = C, the conic is circle;
(b) A ≠ C, but A and C have the same sign, the conic is an ellipse;
(c) A = 0 and C = 0, but not both, the conic is a parabola;
(d) A and C have the opposite signs, the conic is a hyperbola.

Example 1: Identify the conic that represents the given quadratic equations.

(1) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 4 = 0
(2) 9𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2 − 36𝑥 + 8𝑦 − 4 = 0
(3) 𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 − 6𝑦 = 0
(4) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 − 21 = 0
(5) 𝑥2 − 𝑦 + 4 = 0
(6) 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 − 2 = 0

Solutions: In determining the graph of each quadratic equations, take note of the
numerical coefficients of the first three terms in the general form of quadratic
equation 𝑨𝑥 2 + 𝑩𝑥𝑦 + 𝑪𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0

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(2) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 4 = 0
In this equation, we get A=1, B=1, and C=1, Thus, by substituting these
numerical coefficients to the discriminant, we get 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 = 12 − 4(1)(1) = −3. Since
-3 < 0, the conic section is an ellipse.

(3) 9𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2 − 36𝑥 + 8𝑦 − 4 = 0
A=9, B=0 and C=-4. Since B=0 and A and C has opposite signs, the conic
section is a hyperbola.
(4) 𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 − 6𝑦 = 0
A=1, B=0, and C=3. Since the equation has no xy term (B=0) and A≠C but have
the same sign. The conic is an ellipse.
(5) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 − 21 = 0
A=1, B=0, and C=1. Since B=0 and A=C, the conic section is a circle.

(6) 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 + 4 = 0
A=1, B=0 and C=0. Since the equation has no xy term and C = 0, the conic
section is a parabola.
(7) 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 − 2 = 0
A=0, B=1 and C=0. 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 = 12 − 4(0)(0) = 1 > 0. Hence, the conic section is a
hyperbola.

What’s More

Activity 3
Identify the graph of each of the following equations. Write your answer in a
separate sheet of paper
1. 4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 49𝑦 2 − 196𝑦 − 388 = 0
2. 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 𝑦 2 − 𝑦 + 7 = 0
3. 𝑦 2 − 48𝑥 + 6𝑦 = −729
4. 49𝑥 2 + 196𝑥 + 100𝑦 2 + 1400𝑦 + 196 = 0
5. 𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 0
6. 36𝑥 2 + 360𝑥 + 64𝑦 2 − 512𝑦 + 1924 = 0
7. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 18𝑦 − 19 = 0
8. −5𝑥 2 + 60𝑥 + 7𝑦 2 + 84𝑦 + 72 = 0
9. 𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 + 20𝑦 = 136
10. 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑦 + 7𝑦 2 ∓ 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 8 = 0