Conic Sections and Standard Forms of Equations

A conic section is the intersection of a plane and a double right circular cone.  By changing the angle and location of the intersection, we can produce different types of conics. There are four basic types: circles, ellipses, hyperbolas and parabolas.    None of the intersections will pass through the vertices of the cone.

          

If the right circular cone is cut by a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cone, the intersection is a circle.  If the plane intersects one of the pieces of the cone and its axis but is not perpendicular to the axis, the intersection will be an ellipse.  To generate a hyperbola the plane intersects both pieces of the cone without intersecting the axis.  And finally, to generate a parabola, the intersecting plane must intersect one piece of the double cone and its base.

The general equation for any conic section is

where A, B, C, D, E and F are constants.

As we change the values of some of the constants, the shape of the corresponding conic will also change.  It is important to know the differences in the equations to help quickly identify the type of conic that is represented by a given equation.
            If B2 – 4AC is less than zero, if a conic exists, it will be either a circle or an ellipse.
            If B2 – 4AC equals zero, if a conic exists, it will be a parabola.
            If B2 – 4AC is greater than zero, if a conic exists, it will be a hyperbola.

STANDARD FORMS OF EQUATIONS OF CONIC SECTIONS:

Circle (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2

Center is (h, k).

Radius is r.
Ellipse with horizontal major axis

Center is (h, k).
Length of major axis is 2a.
Length of minor axis is 2b.
Distance between center and either focus is c with
c2 = a2– b2, a > b > 0.
Ellipse with vertical major axis

Center is (h, k).
Length of major axis is 2a.
Length of minor axis is 2b.
Distance between center and either focus is c with
c2 = a2– b2, a > b > 0.
Hyperbola with horizontal transverse axis

Center is (h, k).
Distance between the vertices is 2a.
Distance between the foci is 2c.
c2 = a2 + b2
Hyperbola with vertical transverse axis

Center is (h, k).
Distance between the vertices is 2a.
Distance between the foci is 2c.
c2 = a2 + b2
Parabola with horizontal axis (y – k)2 = 4p(x – h), p ≠ 0
Vertex is (h, k).
Focus is (h + p, k).
Directrix is the line x = h – p.
Axis is the line y = k.
Parabola with vertical axis (x – h)2 = 4p(y – k), p ≠ 0

Vertex is (h, k).
Focus is (h, k + p).
Directrix is the line y = k – p.
Axis is the line x = h.