Applications of Conic Sections Day 1

PRE-CALCULUS
St. Paul University Manila

Applications of
conic sections
Classifying a Conic from its General Equation
The equation of a circle may be written in standard form
!" ! + $% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0
that is, the coefficients of x2 and y2 are the same. However, it does not
follow that if the coefficients of x2 and y2 are the same, the graph is a
circle.
A degenerate conic is generated when a plane intersects the vertex of the
cone. There are three types of degenerate conics:
1. The degenerate form of a circle or an ellipse is a singular point. At the vertex of the
!! #! %
cone, the radius is 0, r = 0. Thus, the standard equation is + = 0 or $ − ℎ +
"! $!
'−( % = 0.
2. The degenerate form of a parabola is a line or two parallel lines. For this conic
section, the coefficients ) = * = + = 0 in the general equation. Thus, the
resulting general equation is ,$ + -' + . = 0.
3. The degenerate form of a hyperbola is two intersecting lines. At the vertex of the
(!'()! (#'*)!
cone,/ = 0, so the standard equation is − =0
"! $!
Let us recall the general form of the equations of the other conic sections.
We may write the equations of conic sections we discussed in the general
form
!" ! + $% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0
Some terms may vanish, depending on the kind of conic section.

(1) Circle: both x2 and y2 appear, and their coefficients are the same
!" ! + !% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0
Example:
1. 2" ! + 2% ! − 8" + 12% + 2 = 0
The coefficient of x2 and y2 are the same. Thus, the equation is a circle
2. 18" ! + 18% ! − 24" + 48% − 5 = 0
Degenerate cases: A point when r = 0, An empty set when r < 0.

(1) Circle: both x2 and y2 appear, and their coefficients are the same
!" ! + !% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0
Example:
1. 2" ! + 2% ! − 8" + 12% + 2 = 0
2. 18" ! + 18% ! − 24" + 48% − 5 = 0

(2) Parabola: exactly one of x2 or y2 appears
!" ! + &" + '% + ( = 0 ' ≠ 0, 45678 95:;<= 4< =4:7:;<=
$% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0 & ≠ 0, 45678 F4 Fℎ6 H6IF 4< <JKℎF
Example:
1. 3" ! − 12" + 2% + 26 = 0
There is exactly one of x2 or y2 appears in the equation. Thus, the
equation is a parabola.
2. −2% ! + 3" + 12% − 5 = 0
There is exactly one of x2 or y2 appears in the equation. Thus, the
equation is a parabola.
Degenerate cases: Two parallel lines when @A + BC + D = E.
(3) Ellipse: both x2 and y2 appear, and their coefficients A and B have the
same sign and are unequal
!" ! + $% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0 ! ≠ $
Example:
1. 2" ! + 5% ! + 8" − 10% − 7 = 0
0 ≠ 2. 4567, the equation is an ellipse.
2. 4" ! + % ! − 16" − 6% + 21 = 0
0 ≠ 2. 4567, the equation is an ellipse.

(4) Hyperbola: both x2 and y2 appear, and their coefficients A and B have
the different signs.
!" ! − $% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0
$% ! − !" ! + &" + '% + ( = 0
Example:
1. 5" ! − 3% ! − 20" − 18% − 22 = 0
29:5 ;+ <=> ?+ <@@A<B, <=> :5ACB D9AEECDCA=:7 0 <=> 2 5<FA :5A >CEEABA=: 7CG=7.
4567, the equation is hyperbola.
2. −4" ! + % ! + 24" + 4% − 36 = 0
29:5 ;+ <=> ?+ <@@A<B, <=> :5ACB D9AEECDCA=:7 0 <=> 2 5<FA :5A >CEEABA=: 7CG=7.
4567, the equation is hyperbola.
Degenerate cases: Two intersecting lines when r = 0.
The following examples will show the possible degenerate conic (a point, a
parallel lines, two intersecting lines, or the empty set) as the graph of an
equation following a similar pattern as the non-degenerate cases.
Practice Exercise: The graphs of the following equations are
(nondegenerate) conic sections. Identify the conic section.
Word problems
involving conic
sections
Situational problems involving parabolas
Applications:
Parabolas have an important property that
makes useful as reflectors for lamps, telescopes,
and radio signals as well. Light from a source
placed at the focus of a surface with parabolic
cross section will be reflected in such a way that
it travels parallel to the axis of the parabola.
Thus a parabolic mirror reflects the light into a
beam of parallel rays. Conversely, light
approaching the reflector in rays parallel to its
axis of symmetry is concentrated to the focus.
This reflection property, which can be proved
by using calculus, is used in the construction of
reflecting telescopes.
Example 1: A searchlight has a parabolic reflector that forms a “bowl,”
which is 12 in. wide from rim to rim and 8 in. deep. If the filament of the
light bulb is located at the focus, how far from the vertex of the reflector is it?
(6, 8)
8 in
Solution. The figure below shows a cross-section of the reflector drawn on a
rectangular coordinate system, with the vertex at the origin. From the
problem, we deduce that (6, 8) is a point on the parabola. We need the
distance of the focus from the vertex, which is the value of p in
(x – h)2= 4p(y – k). (6, 8)
V(h, k) = (0, 0) (x, y) = (6, 8)
" − ℎ ! = 45 % − M 8 in
6 − 0 ! = 45 8 − 0
36 = 325
"
=5
#
Thus, the filament should be 9/8 ft away from the vertex of the reflector.
Example 2: A satellite dish has a shape called a paraboloid, where each
cross-section is a parabola. Since radio signals (parallel to the axis) will
bounce of the surface of the dish to the focus, the receiver should be placed at
the focus. How far should the receiver be from the vertex, if the dish is 12 ft
across, and 4.5 ft deep at the vertex?
Solution. The figure below shows a cross-section of the satellite dish drawn
on a rectangular coordinate system, with the vertex at the origin. From the
problem, we deduce that (6, 4.5) is a point on the parabola. We need the
distance of the focus from the vertex, which is the value of p in
(x – h)2= 4p(y – k).
V(h, k) = (0, 0) (x, y) = (6, 4.5)
" − ℎ ! = 45 % − M
6 − 0 ! = 45 4.5 − 0
36 = 185
2=5
Thus, the receiver should be 2 ft away from the vertex.
Example 3: The cable of a suspension bridge hangs in the shape of a
parabola. The towers supporting the cable are 400 ft apart and 150 ft high.
If the cable, at its lowest, is 30 ft above the bridge at its midpoint, how high
is the cable 50 ft away (horizontally) from either tower?
Solution.
V(h, k) = (0, 30) 4p = a
(x, y) = (200, 150)
" − ℎ ! = 45 % − M
200 − 0 ! = ; 150 − 30
40 000 = 120;
$ %%% (x, y) = (150, ?)
&
= ; 97.5 = &
! $ %%%
" − ℎ ! = 45 % − M 150 = & % − 30
Thus, the cable is 97.5 ft high
! $ %%% $ %%% 50 ft away from either tower.
"−0 = % − 30 22 500 = &
% − 10 000
&
$ %%% $ %%%
"! = % − 30 32 500 = %
& &
Practice Exercise
Solve the following problems involving parabola.
1. A satellite dish in the shape of a paraboloid is 10 ft across, and 4 ft deep
at its vertex. How far is the receiver from the vertex, if it is placed at the
focus? Round off your answer to 2 decimal places.
2. The towers supporting the cable of a suspension bridge are 1200 m apart
and 170 m above the bridge it supports. Suppose the cable hangs,
following the shape of a parabola, with its lowest point 20 m above the
bridge. How high is the cable 120 m away from a tower?

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PRE-CALCULUS

St. Paul University Manila

!" ! + $% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0

!" ! + $% ! + &" + '% + ( = 0

Some terms may vanish, depending on the kind of conic section.

Degenerate cases: A point when r = 0, An empty set when r < 0.

Degenerate cases: A point when r = 0, An empty set when r < 0.

Degenerate cases: A point when r = 0, An empty set when r < 0.

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