Question Statement
Find the focus, vertex, and direction of the parabola for the given equations, and sketch their graphs.
Background and Explanation
This problem focuses on analyzing and graphing parabolas. A parabola is defined as the set of all points equidistant from a point called the focus and a line called the directrix. Parabolas can be oriented in different directions, depending on their equations. The standard forms are:
- y2=4ax (opens right), y2=β4ax (opens left)
- x2=4ay (opens upward), x2=β4ay (opens downward)
To solve these problems, we compare the given equations with the standard forms, extract relevant parameters (e.g., a), determine key features (focus, vertex, directrix), and then sketch the graphs.
Solution
i. y2=8x
- Compare with y2=4ax, so:
4a=8βΉa=2
- Focus: (a,0)=(2,0)
- Vertex: (0,0)
- Directrix: x=βa=β2
- Axis: Along the x-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
ii. x2=β16y
- Compare with x2=β4ay, so:
4a=16βΉa=4
- Focus: (0,β4)
- Vertex: (0,0)
- Directrix: y=4
- Axis: Along the y-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
iii. x2=5y
- Compare with x2=4ay, so:
4a=5βΉa=45β
- Focus: (0,45β)
- Vertex: (0,0)
- Directrix: y=β45β
- Axis: Along the y-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
iv. y2=β12x
- Compare with y2=β4ax, so:
4a=12βΉa=3
- Focus: (β3,0)
- Vertex: (0,0)
- Directrix: x=3
- Axis: Along the x-axis.
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v. x2=4(yβ1)
- Shift origin to (0,1), rewrite as:
x2=4y
- Compare with x2=4ay, so:
a=1
- Focus: (0,2)
- Vertex: (0,1)
- Directrix: y=0
- Axis: Along the y-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
vi. y2=β8(xβ3)
- Shift origin to (3,0), rewrite as:
y2=β8x
- Compare with y2=β4ax, so:
4a=8βΉa=2
- Focus: (1,0)
- Vertex: (3,0)
- Directrix: x=5
- Axis: Along the x-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
vii. (xβ1)2=8(y+2)
- Shift origin to (1,β2), rewrite as:
x2=8y
- Compare with x2=4ay, so:
4a=8βΉa=2
- Focus: (1,0)
- Vertex: (1,β2)
- Directrix: y=β4
- Axis: Along the y-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
viii. y=6x2β1
x2=61β(y+1)
- Compare with x2=4ay, so:
4a=61ββΉa=241β
- Focus: (0,β2423β)
- Vertex: (0,β1)
- Directrix: y=β2425β
- Axis: Along the y-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
ix. x+8βy2+2y=0
(yβ1)2=x+9
- Shift origin to (β9,1), rewrite as:
y2=x
- Compare with y2=4ax, so:
4a=1βΉa=41β
- Focus: (β435β,1)
- Vertex: (β9,1)
- Directrix: x=β437β
- Axis: Along the x-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
x. x2β4xβ8y+4=0
(xβ2)2=8y
- Shift origin to (2,0), rewrite as:
x2=8y
- Compare with x2=4ay, so:
4a=8βΉa=2
- Focus: (2,2)
- Vertex: (2,0)
- Directrix: y=β2
- Axis: Along the y-axis.
Diagram Placeholder
- Standard Form of Parabola:
y2=4axorx2=4ay
- Focus: Determined using a value.
- Vertex: The origin or the shifted origin.
- Directrix: Line opposite the focus, located at x=βa or y=βa.
Summary of Steps
- Rewrite the equation to match the standard form of a parabola.
- Identify a, focus, vertex, and directrix.
- Shift the origin if needed.
- Sketch the graph using the identified parameters.