View Full Version : How do you find the vertex, focus, and directrix of parabolas?
cmy89
Aug 11, 2008, 09:14 PM
I don't really understand this concept, so thorough examples would be much appreciated. :D
1. y^2=8x
2. x^2 + 8y + 16 = 0
... and
Find an equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.
3. Focus (0,1), directrix y = 7
Thanks!
galactus
Aug 12, 2008, 02:26 PM
Find an equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.
3. Focus (0,1), directrix y = 7
Thanks!
The vertex of the parabola is halfway between the directrix and the focus.
So, the vertex is at (0,4)
The parabola opens down.
p is the distance (absolute value because distance is always positive) between the focus and the vertex and between the vertex and the directrix.
Therefore, p=3 because 7-4=3 and 4-1=3.
So, we have (y-k)^{2}=4p(x-h)
(y-4)^{2}=4p(x-0)
(y-4)^{2}=7x
y^{2}-8y-7x+16=0
galactus
Aug 14, 2008, 07:55 AM
1. y^{2}=8x
|p| is the distance from the focus to the vertex and also the distance from the vertex to the
directrix. This one is of the form x=a\cdot y^{2}.
We can use
y^{2}=4px
or x=\frac{1}{4p}y^{2}
In this case, x=\frac{1}{8}y^{2}
a=\frac{1}{8}
Since a=\frac{1}{4p}, then p=2.
The vertex is at the origin and it opens to the right, so it has focus 2 units to the right of
the origin, F(2,0) and
directrix 2 units to the left of the origin at x=-2
2. x^{2} + 8y + 16 = 0
Can you do this one? Remember, you have the form: (x-h)^{2}=4p(y-k)
From your given equation, can you see what V(h,k) and p are?
I don't know if this matters or not. Have you even read, or even care about, anything I have posted to help you along? I posted the solutions to two of them so you would have an example to work from for other problems.
joele12
Jun 17, 2011, 06:30 AM
if your problem is x^2=8y what is your p vaule.
Unknown008
Jun 17, 2011, 07:38 AM
Put it in the form that galactus gave.
x^2 = 8y
(x-h)^2 = 4p(y-k)
So, you see clearly that h = 0. And if you expand;
4p(y-k) = 4py - 4pk
So, you see again that p = 2 and k = 0
junemarie15
Nov 28, 2011, 02:15 PM
equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.Focus (6, 0), directrix x = 5
ebaines
Nov 28, 2011, 02:52 PM
equation of the parabola that satisfies the given conditions.Focus (6, 0), directrix x = 5
Please do not double post questions. See:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/mathematics/find-equation-parabola-satisfies-given-conditions-615388.html
maribel95
May 20, 2012, 07:11 PM
what is the directrix and focus of y=x^2 and of x=(1/36) y^2?
ebaines
May 21, 2012, 10:14 AM
For each of these first put the equation into standard form - either
y-y_1 = \frac 1 {4p} (x-x_1)^2
or
x-x_1 = \frac 1 {4p} (y-y_1)^2
Once you have this the vertex is at (x_1, y_1), and the focus is a distance 'p' towards the "inside" of the parabola, and the directrix is a line that us distance 'p' from the cvertex towards the outside.
I'll do an example for you: consider
y = \frac 1 {12} (x-2)^2
The vertex is at (2,0), The value of 'p' is 3 (since 1/(4*3) = 1/12), and hence the focus is at (2,3). The directrix is a horizontal line a distance 3 below the vertex, or at y= -3.
Hope this helps!
Teresaw3
Jun 19, 2012, 08:25 PM
What is the directrix of (y-(-2))^2=3(x-(-1))? I do not understand how to find the answer for this please help!