Math 213B : Calculus 1 with Analytic
Geometry
Module 3: Conics: Ellipses and Hyperbolas
Week 3: September 12-September 18, 2021|
1st Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022
Intended Learning Outcomes:
• define an ellipse, hyperbola and its properties
• discuss the different parts of hyperbola
• determine the standard form of equation of an ellipse, and hyperbola
• graph an ellipse hyperbola given various equations in a Cartesian coordinate
system;
• convert the general equation of an ellipse to standard form and vice versa.
Ellipse
An ellipse is the set of all points in
a plane, the sum whose distances
from two fixed points is constant.
These two fixed points are called
foci (plural of focus). A line
segment through the foci called the
major axis intersects the ellipse at
the vertices. The midpoint of the
line segment joining the vertices is
called the center. The line segment
that intersects the center and joins
two points on the ellipse and is
perpendicular to the major axis is
called the minor axis.
Equation of an Ellipse with a Center at the Origin
Solution:
The major axis lies along the x-axis,
since it contains the foci and vertices.
Write the corresponding general equation of an
ellipse.
Word Problem Application. A tunnel has the shape of a semi-ellipse that is
15 ft high at the center, and 36 ft across at the base. At most how high should
a passing truck be, if it is 12 ft wide, for it to be able to fit through the tunnel?
Round off your answer to two decimal places.
Solution: Refer to the figure above. If we draw the semi-ellipse on a
rectangular coordinate system, with its center at the origin, an
equation of the ellipse which contains it, is
To maximize its height, the corners of the truck, as shown in the
figure, would have to just touch the ellipse. Since the truck is 12 ft wide,
let the point (6, n) be the corner of the truck in the first quadrant, where n >
0, is the (maximum) height of the truck. Since this point is on the ellipse, it
should fit the equation. Thus, we have
Hyperbola
A hyperbola is the set of all points in a
plane the difference of whose distances
from two fixed points is a positive
constant. These two fixed points are called
foci. The hyperbola has two separate
curves called branches. The two points
where the hyperbola intersects the line
joining the foci are called vertices. The
line segment joining the vertices is called
the transverse axis of the hyperbola. The
midpoint of the transverse axis is called
the center.
Equation of a Hyperbola with Center at the Origin
Label the vertices (-2,0) and
(2,0), and the points (0,3) and (0,-3).
Draw a rectangular box that passes
through these points. Draw the
asymptotes that pass through the center
and the corners of the rectangle.
Draw the two branches of
the hyperbola, each passing through a
vertex and guided by the asymptotes.
Equation of a Hyperbola with Center at the Point (h,k)
Solution:
Compare the given equation to the
standard equation of the hyperbola.
Draw the two branches of the hyperbola, each passing through
a vertex and guided by the asymptotes.
Example 7.
Example 8. An explosion was heard by two stations 1200 m apart,
located at F1(−600, 0) and F2(600, 0). If the explosion was
heard in F1 two seconds before it was heard in F2, identify the
possible locations of the explosion. Use 340 m/s as the speed of
sound.
Solution. Using the given speed of sound, we can deduce that the
sound traveled 340(2) = 680 m farther in reaching F2 than in reaching
F1. This is then the difference of the distances of the explosion from
the two stations. Thus, the explosion is on a hyperbola with foci are F1
and F2, on the branch closer to F1.
Summary:
• An ellipse is the set of all points in the plane the sum of whose distances
from two fixed points F1 and F2 is a constant. These two fixed points are
the foci (plural of focus) of the ellipse.
A hyperbola is the set of all points in the plane, the difference of whose distances
from two fixed points F1 and F2 is a constant. These two fixed points are the foci
of the hyperbola.
center : origin (0, 0)
foci : F1(−c, 0) and F2(c, 0)
• Each focus is c units away from the center.
Vertices: V1(−a, 0) and V2(a, 0)
The vertices are points on the hyperbola, collinear with the center and foci.
𝑏 𝑏
Asymptotes: y = − 𝑎 𝑥 and y = − 𝑎 𝑥 the lines ℓ1 and ℓ2 in the figure
The asymptotes of the hyperbola are two lines passing through the center which serve
as a guide in graphing the hyperbola:
References:
• Hyperbola (Part 1) - Conic Sections Class 11 CBSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEyYaIWIUp0
• Hyperbola (Part 2) - Conic Sections Class 11 CBSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni0gjU8-Pn4 (September 10, 2021)
• Fajardo, Ira A., Marquez, Romel L., Ringor, Rebecca S., and Gerardo, Elsa F.,
PhD. Analytic Geometry (Worktext) 2003 edition
• Camilon, M.G.,et.al. 2017. Precalculus for Senior High School. Quezon City:
Educational Resources Publication.
• Jeff Eicher
8.6 Conic Sections - Word Problems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eVzYUEi93o
September 11, 2021
