Table of Contents

Parabola - Definition and Equations

• Consider a fixed point F in the plane which we shall call the focus, and a line which we will call the directrix ...

• Select a point in the plane such that it is the same distance from the focus as it is from the directrix ...

21 dd

1d 2d

Table of Contents Slide 2

Parabola - Definition and Equations

• Select another point that is equidistant from the focus and directrix ...

3d

4d

• If we were to continue to find all of the points in the plane that are equidistant from the focus and the directirx, the result would be a parabola ...

43 dd

Table of Contents Slide 3

Parabola - Definition and Equations

• Using the definition of a parabola in a coordinate plane, the equations are found to be as follows.

)ky(p4)hx( 2 Vertical Axis of Symmetry Horizontal Axis of Symmetry

0p

0p

0p

0p

)hx(p4)ky( 2

Table of Contents

Parabola - Definition and Equations