Lesson 8

Equations and Graphs

  • Let’s write an equation for a parabola.

8.1: Focus on Distance

The image shows a parabola with focus \((\text-2,2)\) and directrix \(y=0\) (the \(x\)-axis). Points \(A\), \(B\), and \(C\) are on the parabola.

Parabola on the coordinate plane.

Without using the Pythagorean Theorem, find the distance from each plotted point to the parabola’s focus. Explain your reasoning.

8.2: Building an Equation for a Parabola

The image shows a parabola with focus \((3,2)\) and directrix \(y=0\) (the \(x\)-axis).

Parabola with focus at 3 comma 2. Directrix y equals 0. Point x comma y is on parabola.
  1. Write an equation that would allow you to test whether a particular point \((x,y)\) is on the parabola.
  2. The equation you wrote defines the parabola, but it’s not in a very easy-to-read form. Rewrite the equation to be in vertex form: \(y=a(x-h)^2+k\), where \((h,k)\) is the vertex.

8.3: Card Sort: Parabolas

Your teacher will give you a set of cards with graphs and equations of parabolas. Match each graph with the equation that represents it.



In this section, you have examined points that are equidistant from a given point and a given line. Now consider a set of points that are half as far from a point as they are from a line.

  1. Write an equation that describes the set of all points that are \(\frac{1}{2}\) as far from the point \((5,3)\) as they are from the \(x\)-axis.
  2. Use technology to graph your equation. Sketch the graph and describe what it looks like.

Summary

The parabola in the image consists of all the points that are the same distance from the point \((1,4)\) as they are from the line \(y=0\). Suppose we want to write an equation for the parabola—that is, an equation that says a given point \((x,y)\) is on the curve. We can draw a right triangle whose hypotenuse is the distance between point \((x,y)\) and the focus, \((1,4)\).

Parabola with a focus of 1 comma 4 and directrix y equals 0. 

The distance from \((x,y)\) to the directrix, or the line \(y=0\), is \(y\) units. By definition, the distance from \((x,y)\) to the focus must be equal to the distance from the point to the directrix. So, the distance from \((x,y)\) to the focus can be labeled with \(y\). To find the lengths of the legs of the right triangle, subtract the corresponding coordinates of the point \((x,y)\) and the focus, \((1,4)\). Substitute the expressions for the side lengths into the Pythagorean Theorem to get an equation defining the parabola.

\((x-1)^2+(y-4)^2=y^2\)

To get the equation looking more familiar, rewrite it in vertex form, or \(y=a(x-h)^2+k\) where \((h,k)\) is the vertex.

\((x-1)^2+(y-4)^2=y^2\)

\((x-1)^2+y^2-8y+16=y^2\)

\((x-1)^2-8y+16=0\)

\(\text-8y=\text-(x-1)^2-16\)

\(y=\frac18 (x-1)^2+2\)

Glossary Entries

  • directrix

    The line that, together with a point called the focus, defines a parabola, which is the set of points equidistant from the focus and directrix.

  • focus

    The point that, together with a line called the directrix, defines a parabola, which is the set of points equidistant from the focus and directrix.

  • parabola

    A parabola is the set of points that are equidistant from a given point, called the focus, and a given line, called the directrix.