Republic of the Philippines

National Capital Region

Division of Taguig City and Pateros
Gen. Santos Ave. Upper Bicutan, Taguig City

Pre-Calculus
Equation of Parabola
Definition 2: Let 𝑭(𝒄, 𝟎) be any given point and 𝓵 a given line not containing 𝑭. The set of all points
𝑷(𝒙, 𝒚) such that its distances from 𝑭 and from 𝓵 are the same is called a parabola. The point 𝑭 is
called the focus, the fixed line 𝓵 is its directrix.

• The line through the focus perpendicular to the directrix is called the axis of the curve.

• The line where the axis intersects the curve is the vertex of the parabola.

• The vertex, denoted by 𝑉, is the point midway between the focus and the directrix.

• The undirected distance from the vertex to the focus is positive number denoted by 𝑐.

• The line through 𝐹 perpendicular to the axis is called the latus rectum whose length is 4𝑐.

𝐴𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑦𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑦

𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠(𝐹)

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑥 (𝑉)

𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑚

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 Exercises 1.1
I. Determine the coordinate of the vertex, focus, end points of the latus rectum, equation of the axis of
symmetry and equation of the directrix of the given parabola. Also, sketch the graph.

1. 𝑥 2 = 12𝑦
end points of the latus rectum
parabola that opens upward
𝑙1 (6,3), 𝑙2 (−6,3),
Vertex: 𝑉(0,0)
4𝑐 12 eq. of the directrix:
from 4𝑐 = 12, 4
= 4
, 𝑐=3
𝑦 = −3, 𝑦 + 3 = 0
Focus: F(0,3)
axis of symmetry

𝑥=0

2. 𝒙𝟐 = −𝟔𝒚,
parabola that opens downward
Vertex: 𝑉(0,0) eq. of the directrix:
4𝑐 6 3
from 4𝑐 = 6, 4
= 4, 𝑐 = 2
3 3
3 𝑦 = 2, 𝑦 −2 = 0
Focus:F(0, − )
2
2𝑦 − 3 = 0
end points of the latus rectum
axis of symmetry
3
𝑙1 (3, − ) , 𝑙2 (−3, − ),
2
3
2
𝑙2 𝑙1
𝑥=0

3. (𝒚 + 𝟔)𝟐 = 𝟓(𝒙 + 𝟒)
parabola that opens to the right
𝑉(−4, −6), ℎ = −4, 𝑘 = −6
4𝑐 5 5 5 5 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟐𝟏 = 𝟎
from 4𝑐 = 5, 4
= 4 , 𝑐 = 4,2𝑐 = 2 (4) , 2𝑐 = 2
5 −11
F (−4 + 4 , − 6) , F( 4
, −6)
end points of the latus rectum
−11 5 −11 7
𝑙1 ( 4
, −6 + 2) 𝑙1 ( 4 , − 2)
−11 5 −11 17 −𝟏𝟏
𝑙2 ( 4 , − 6 − 2) , 𝑙2 ( 4 , − 2 ), ( 𝐅( , −𝟔)
𝐕 −𝟒, −𝟔) 𝟒

eq. of the directrix:

5 21 21
x = −4 − , 𝑥 = − ,𝑥 + = 0, 4𝑥 + 21 = 0
4 4 4
axis of symmetry
y = −6
y+6 = 0

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4. (𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐(𝒚 +1) end points of the latus rectum
parabola that opens to the upward
𝑉(2, −1), ℎ = 2, 𝑘 = −1 𝑙1 (2 + 6,2) 𝑙1 (8,2)
4𝑐 12
from 4𝑐 = 12 4 = 4
, 𝑐 = 3,2𝑐 = 2(3), 2𝑐 = 6 𝑙2 (2 − 6,2), 𝑙2 (−4,2),
F(2, −1 + 3), F(2,2)
eq. of the directrix:

y = −1 − 3, 𝑦 = −4, 𝑦 + 4 = 0
𝐅(𝟐, 𝟐)
axis of symmetry

x=2
𝒙−𝟐=𝟎

𝑽(𝟐, −𝟏)
𝒚+𝟒 = 𝟎

5. 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 − 𝟖𝒚 − 𝟐𝟒 = 𝟎
𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 = 8𝑦 + 24
By completing the square
𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 = 8𝑦 + 24 + 16
(𝑥 − 4)2 = 8𝑦 + 40
(𝑥 − 4)2 = 8(𝑦 + 5)

parabola that opens to the upward

𝑉(4, −5), ℎ = 4, 𝑘 = −5
4𝑐 8
from 4𝑐 = 8, 4
= 4 , 𝑐 = 2,2𝑐 = 2(2), 2𝑐 = 4
𝑦+7=0
F(4, −5 + 2), F(4, −3)

end points of the latus rectum

𝑙1 (4 + 4, −3) 𝑙1 (8, −3)
𝑙2 (4 − 4, −3), 𝑙2 (0, −3),

eq. of the directrix:

y = −5 − 2, 𝑦 = −7, 𝑦 + 7 = 0

axis of symmetry

x=4
𝑥−4=0

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II. Solve the following.

1. Find the standard and general form/equation of the parabola with 𝑽(𝟎, 𝟎), axis on the 𝒙 −
𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔 and passing through(−𝟒, 𝟐).

Vertex: 𝑉(0,0)
(−4,2)
𝐴𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑦𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑦 − 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠

Passing through 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑃(−4,2)

Sol.

To solve the value of 𝒄,

𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
Substitute pt. 𝑃 𝑡𝑜 𝒚𝟐 = −𝟒𝒄𝒙

22 = −4𝑐(−4) (0,0)
4 = 16𝑐
𝟒 𝟏
𝒄= , 𝒄=
𝟏𝟔 𝟒

Hence, the required standard eq. is:

𝒚𝟐 = −𝒙

and the required general eq. is

𝒚𝟐 + 𝒙 = 𝟎

2. Find the standard and general form/equation of the parabola with vertex at 𝑽(𝟒, 𝟐), latus
rectum 20 and opens downward.

𝑉(4,2)
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑚 𝑖𝑠 20
Opens downward
Sol.

solve the value of 𝒄,

𝟒𝒄 = 𝟐𝟎, 𝒄 = 𝟓
Substitute c and V 𝑡𝑜(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 = −𝟒𝒄(𝒚 − 𝒌)
(𝒙 − 𝟒)𝟐 = −𝟒(𝟓)(𝒚 − 𝟐)
Hence, the required standard eq. is:
(𝒙 − 𝟒)𝟐 = −𝟐𝟎(𝒚 − 𝟐)
and the required general eq. is

𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 = −20𝑦 + 40

𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 + 20𝑦 − 40 = 0

𝒙𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟐𝟎𝒚 − 𝟐𝟒 = 𝟎

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3. Find the standard and general form/equation of the parabola with opening downward with
endpoints of the latus rectum (−𝟖, −𝟐)𝒂𝒏𝒅 (𝟎, −𝟐).

Opens downward

𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑚 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙1 (0, −2) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙2 (−8, −2)

Sol.

solve the value of 𝑐,

𝟖
𝟒𝒄 = 𝟎 − (−𝟖), 𝟒𝒄 = 𝟎 + 𝟖 , 𝟒𝒄 = 𝟖, 𝒄 = 𝟒 , 𝒄 = 𝟐

Solve for the focus using midpoint formula

𝟎+(−𝟖) (−𝟖)
𝑭( 𝟐
, − 𝟐) , 𝑭 ( 𝟐
, − 𝟐) , 𝑭(, −𝟒, − 𝟐)
Hence, the required standard eq. is:
Solve for the vertex
(𝒙 + 𝟒)𝟐 = −𝟖𝒚
𝑦 = 𝑘 − 𝑐 , −2 = 𝑘 − 2
𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 16 = −8𝑦
𝑘 = −2 + 2, 𝑘 = 0
and the required general eq. is
𝑽(−𝟒, 𝟎)
𝒙𝟐 + 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟖𝒚 + 𝟏𝟔 = 𝟎

𝟒𝒄

𝒍𝟐 (−𝟖, −𝟐) 𝒍𝟏 (𝟎, −𝟐)

4. Find the standard and general form/equation of the parabola with vertex at
𝑽(−𝟏, −𝟐), 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔 and passing through (𝟑, 𝟔).
𝑉(−1, −2)

vertical axis

passing through 𝑃(3,6)

Sol.

to solve for the value of 𝑐, 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑡𝑠. 𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 :
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑐(𝑦 − 𝑘)
2
൫3 − (−1)൯ = 4𝑐൫6 − (−2)൯ Hence, the req. S. E. is: (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 = 𝟐(𝒚 + 𝟐)
(3 + 1)2 = 4𝑐(6 + 2) and the req. G. E. is:
42 = 4𝑐(8) 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2 = 2𝑦 + 4
16 = 32𝑐 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 − 2𝑦 − 4 = 0
𝟏𝟔 𝟏 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 − 𝟑 = 𝟎
𝒄= , 𝒄=
𝟑𝟐 𝟐
1
(𝑥 + 1)2 = 4 ൬ ൰ (𝑦 + 2)
N o t h i n g i s ,2 e v e r y t h i n g i s b e c o m i n g - H e r a c l i t u s . P a g e 5 | 9
5. A satellite dish has a shape called paraboloid, where each cross-section is a parabola. Since
radio signals (parallel to the x-axis) will bounce off 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?

Sol.
𝑥 2 = 4𝑐𝑦
The second figure above shows a cross-
section of the satellite dish drawn on a 62 = 4𝑐(4.5)
rectangular coordinate system, with the
36 = 18
vertex at the origin. From the problem, we
𝟑𝟔
deduce that (6,4.5) is a point on the 𝒄 = 𝟏𝟖 = 𝟐 𝒇𝒕
parabola. We need the distance of the
focus from the vertex, 𝑖. 𝑒.,, the value of 𝑐 in Thus, the receiver should be 2ft 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦
𝑥 2 = 4𝑐𝑦. from the vertex.

6. 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 𝟑𝟎𝒇𝒕. above the
bridge at its midpoint, how high is the cable 50 ft. away (horizontally) from either tower?

Sol.

Refer to the figure above, where the parabolic is drawn with its vertex on
the 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 30 𝑓𝑡 above the origin. We may write its equation as
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘) 𝑥 2 = 𝑎(𝑦 − 30) The parabola has equation
2 1000
(𝑥 − 0) = 𝑎(𝑦 − 30) 2002 = 𝑎(150 − 30) 𝑥2 = 3
(𝑦 − 30), 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 =

Since the towers are 150 𝑓𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ and 40,000 = 120𝑎 150 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −150
400𝑓𝑡 𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡, 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒 1000
𝟒𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒂 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 = 𝟑 1502 = (𝑦 − 30)
𝑡ℎ𝑒 (200, 150)𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎. 3
𝒚 = 𝟗𝟕. 𝟓 𝒇𝒕

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 Republic of the Philippines
National Capital Region
Division of Taguig City and Pateros

Worksheet 102
Parabola

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________________________

Strand/Yr./Sec: _______________________ Score: __________________________
General Instructions: Answer the following with all your honesty. Our golden rule is still in effect as of this
moment(bwhahaahahaha). Each item has a corresponding point that ranges from 0 − 10 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠.Use
black or blue pen only.
Do as indicated.

Part I.

1. Give 5 points that is on the parabola (𝑥 − 1)2 = 12(𝑦 + 2).

𝑃1 ( __, __) 𝑃2 ( __, __) 𝑃3 ( __, __) 𝑃4 ( __, __) 𝑃4 ( __, __)
Sol. Here

2. Sketch the graph of (𝑥 − 1)2 = 12(𝑦 + 2), including the directrix and axis of symmetry.

Sol Here:

Part II. Determine the 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑥, 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠, 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠

𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑦𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑦.

3. (𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 + 2)2 = 18.

Sol Here: Ans Here:

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 4. 2𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 28𝑦 − 38 = 0
Sol Here: Ans Here:

Part III.

Determine the standard and general equation of the parabola which satisfies the following conditions.

5. 𝑉(−4,5), 𝐹(0,5)

Sol Here:

Ans Here:

6. Axis of symmetry 𝑦 = 9, directrix 𝑥 = 24, vertex is on the line 3𝑦 − 5𝑥 − 7 = 0.

Sol Here:

Ans Here:

7. 𝑉(−3,8), horizontal axis of symmetry and passing through 𝑃(−5,12).

Sol Here:

Ans Here:

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 3 37
8. 𝐹 (− , 3), directrix 𝑥 = −
2 2
Sol Here:

Ans Here:

9. Refer to the graph of the circle below.

Equation of the
directrix

Ans Here:

10. A rectangular object 25 𝑚 wide is to pass under a parabolic arch that has a width of 32 𝑚 at the
base and a height of 24 𝑚 at the center. If the vertex of the parabola is at the top of the arch,
what maximum height should the rectangular object have?

Sol Here:

Ans Here:

𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒚𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒉 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆 !!!!!

What is the equation of the parabola with x intercepts at 𝑥 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = −3,

and a 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑦 = 5?

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