Conic Section.
1. Equation of conic section :
If the focus is ( , ) directrix is ax + by + c = 0
then equation of the conic section.
(ax + by + c) 2
(x - ) + (y - ) = e
2 2 2
,
(a 2 b 2 )
SP
= e.
PM
Note : - (i) If e = 1 the conic is called parabola.
(ii) If e < 1 the conic is called ellipse.
(iii) If e > 1 the conic is called hyperbola.
(iv) If e = 0 the conic is called circle.
(v) If e = the conic is called pair of straight lines.
2. Standard equation of parabola is y 2 = 4ax
(i) Vertex is (0,0)
(ii) focus is ( , 0)
(iii) Equation of axis is y = 0
(iv) Equation of directrix is x + = 0
(v) Latus rectum = 4a
(vi) Equation of tangent at the vertex is x = 0
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Conic Section. 2
x2 y 2
3. Standard equation of an ellipse is 2 + 2 = 1 .
a b
(i) Vertices are ( a , 0)
(ii) foci are ( ae , 0)
(iii) centre is (0,0)
a
(iv) equation of directrices are = x =0
e
(v) length of semi - major axis = a
(vi) length of semi - minor axis = b
2b 2
(vii) latus rectum =
a
(viii) b 2 = a 2 (1 - e 2 )
x2 y 2
4. Standard equation of an hyperbola is =1.
a2 b 2
(i) Vertices are (a , 0)
(ii) foci are (ae , 0)
(iii) centre is (0,0)
(iv) equation of transverse axis is y = 0
(v) equation of conjugate axis is x = 0
a
(vi) Equation of directrices are x =0
e
2b 2
(vii) latus rectum =
a
(viii) b 2 = a 2 (e2 -1)
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Conic Section. 3
5. Parametric equation of conic sections :
(i) Parametric equations of the parabola y 2 = 4ax are x = at 2 , y = 2at.
So any point on the parabola y 2 = 4ax is 9(at 2 , 2at)
where t is parameter.
x 2 y2
(ii) Parametric equation of the ellipse + = 1 are x = a cosθ , y = b sinθ
a 2 b2
and any point on the ellipse is (a cosθ , b sinθ) where θ is the parameter.
x 2 y2
(iii) Parametric equations of the hyperbola 2 - 2 = 1 are x = a secθ, y = btanθ
a b
and any point on the ellipse is (a secθ , b tanθ) , where θ is the parameter.
6. S ax 2 + 2hxy + by 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
a h g
then = h b f = abc + 2fgh - af 2 - bg 2 - ch 2 .
g f c
7. The general equation of the second degree.
L = ax 2 + 2hxy + by 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c .
represents a pair of straight lines if = 0 . if 0 then it represents
(i) a parabola if h 2 = ab (ii) an ellipse is h 2 < ab
(iii) a hyperbola if h 2 > ab (iv) a circle if h = 0 , a = b
2
(v) a rectangular hyperbola if h > ab , and a + b = 0
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Conic Section. 4
8. Notations :
S ax 2 + 2hxy + by 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c
S = ax12 + 2hx1 y1 + by12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c
T = axx1 + h(xy1 + x1 y) + byy1 + g(x + x1 ) + f(y + y1 ) + c
S1 is obtained from S by putting x1 in place of x, y1 in place of y and
T is obtained by putting xx1 in place of x , yy1 in place of y,
x + x1 y + y1
in place of x and in place of y.
2 2
9. Equation of the tangent at any point (x1 , y 1 ) :
(i) To the parabola y = 4ax is yy1 = 2a(x + x1 ). i.e, T = 0
x 2 y2 xx yy
(ii) To the ellipse 2
+ 2 = 1 is 21 + 21 = 1. i.e, T = 0
a b a b
2 2
x y xx yy
(iii) To the hyperbola 2 - 2 = 1 is 21 - 21 = 1. i.e, T = 0
a b a b
10. Equation of the tangent at point :
a 2a a
(i) at 2 , to the parabola y 2 = 4ax is y = mx +
m m m
2 2
x y x cosθ y sinθ
(ii) at (a cosθ , b sinθ ) to the ellipse 2 + 2 = 1 is + =1
a b a b
x 2 y2 x secθ y tanθ
(ii) at (a secθ , b tanθ ) to the hyperbola 2 - 2 = 1 is - =1
a b a b
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Conic Section. 5
11. The condition of tangency of y = mx + c to
a
(i) The parabola y 2 = 4ax is c =
m
x 2 y2
(ii) The ellipse 2
+ 2 = 1 is c = a 2 m 2 + b 2
a b
2
x y2
(iii) The ellipse 2 - 2 = 1 is c = a 2 m 2 - b 2
a b
12. The equation of normal to the
(i) parabola y 2 = 4ax at (at 2 , 2at) is y + tx = 2at + at 3 and
a 2a
at 2 , is y = mx - 2am - am 3
m m
x 2 y2
(ii) ellipse 2 + 2 = 1 at (a cosθ , b sinθ ) is ax secθ - by cosecθ = a 2 - b 2
a b
x y2
2
(iii) hyperbola 2 - 2 = 1 at (a secθ , b tanθ ) is ax cosθ - by cotθ = a 2 + b 2
a b
13. The equation of the chord of contact of tangents from (x1 , y1 ) to the
conic S = 0 is T = 0
14. The equation of the chord of contact of tangents from (x1 , y 1 ) to the
(i) parabola y 2 = 4ax is yy1 = 2a(x + x1 ) . i.e, T = 0
x 2 y2 xx yy
(ii) ellipse 2
+ 2 = 1 is 21 + 21 = 1 . i.e, T = 0
a b a b
2 2
x y xx yy
(ii) hyperbola 2 - 2 = 1 is 21 - 21 = 1 . i.e, T = 0
a b a b
15. The equation of the polar line of the point (x1 , y1 ) w.r.t the conic S = 0 is T = 0
16. The equation of the pair of tangents from the point (x1 , y1 ) to the conic S = 0 ,
S.S1 = T 2
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