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Understanding Conic Sections for JEE

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8 views7 pages

Understanding Conic Sections for JEE

Uploaded by

priyanshumore27
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CONIC SECTIONS

Parabola • Ellipse • Hyperbola • Tangents • Normals • Directors • Eccentricity

Core Idea: Conics are loci defined by a fixed ratio (eccentricity). JEE problems
reduce to: Standard form → Parametric form → Tangent/Normal equation.

1. BASICS OF CONICS
A conic is the locus of a point P such that:

Distance(P, focus)
=e
Distance(P, directrix)
Where eccentricity e:

e = 1 ⇒ Parabola
e < 1 ⇒ Ellipse
e > 1 ⇒ Hyperbola
—
============================== PARABOLA ==================

2. PARABOLA

2.1 Standard Parabola


y 2 = 4ax

Parameters:

Vertex: (0, 0)

Focus: (a, 0)

Directrix: x = −a

Axis: x-axis

Latus Rectum Length: 4a

—
Parametric Form (VERY IMPORTANT)

x = at2 , y = 2at

—
Tangent to Parabola

1
2.2 1. Point Form
At (x1 , y1 ):

yy1 = 2a(x + x1 )

2.3 2. Parametric Form


At (at2 , 2at):

ty = x + at2

—
Normal to Parabola
At (at2 , 2at):

y = −tx + 2at + at3

—
Focal Chord
Slope m:
 
a 2a
P = , , Q = (am2 , 2am)
m2 m
—
============================== ELLIPSE ===================

3. ELLIPSE

3.1 Standard Form


x2 y 2
+ 2 = 1, a>b
a2 b

3.2 Eccentricity
r
b2
e= 1−
a2

3.3 Foci
(±ae, 0)

2
3.4 Directrices
a
x=±
e
—
Parametric Form

x = a cos θ, y = b sin θ

—
Tangent to Ellipse
At (x1 , y1 ):

xx1 yy1
+ 2 =1
a2 b
Parametric:

x cos θ y sin θ
+ =1
a b
—
Normal to Ellipse
At (a cos θ, b sin θ):

x cos θ y sin θ
− = a cos2 θ − b sin2 θ
a b
—
Latus Rectum

2b2
LR length =
a
—
============================== HYPERBOLA =================

4. HYPERBOLA

4.1 Standard Form


x2 y 2
− 2 =1
a2 b

4.2 Eccentricity
r
b2
e= 1+
a2

3
4.3 Foci
(±ae, 0)

4.4 Directrices
a
x=±
e
—
Parametric Form

x = a sec θ, y = b tan θ

—
Tangent to Hyperbola
At (x1 , y1 ):

xx1 yy1
− 2 =1
a2 b
Parametric:

x sec θ y tan θ
− =1
a b
—
Asymptotes

b
y=± x
a
—
Conjugate Hyperbola

y 2 x2
− 2 =1
a2 b
—
Latus Rectum

2b2
LR length =
a
—
============================== GENERAL CONIC RESULTS
(JEE ADV) ==============================

5. GENERAL RESULTS

4
5.1 Director Circle
Ellipse: a = b (circle)
Hyperbola:

x2 + y 2 = a2 + b2

5.2 Chord of Contact


For any conic S = 0 and point (x1 , y1 ), chord of contact:

T =0

5.3 Pair of Tangents


SS1 = T 2

5.4 Distance Between Foci


Ellipse: 2ae Hyperbola: 2ae

5.5 Reflective Property


Parabola: Angle with axis = angle with normal Ellipse: Sum of distances from foci =
constant Hyperbola: Difference of distances = constant
—
============================== SOLVED EXAMPLES ============

6. SOLVED EXAMPLES

6.1 Example 1
Tangent to y 2 = 16x at (4, 8):

yy1 = 4(x + x1 )

8y = 4(x + 4) ⇒ 2y = x + 4

5
6.2 Example 2
Find eccentricity of ellipse:

x2 y 2
+ =1
25 16
r
16 3
e= 1− =
25 5
—

6.3 Example 3
x2 y2
Asymptotes of 9
− 4
= 1:

2
y=± x
3
—

6.4 Example 4
x2 y2
Parametric point on hyperbola 4
− 3
= 1:
√
x = 2 sec θ, y= 3 tan θ

—
============================== JEE MAIN / ADVANCED PROB-
LEMS ==============================

7. JEE MAIN / ADVANCED PROBLEMS

7.1 Q1
Find equation of tangent to ellipse

x2 y 2
+ =1
9 4
at θ = π6 .

x cos θ y sin θ
+ =1
3 2
—

6
7.2 Q2
x2 y2
Latus rectum of hyperbola a2
− b2
= 1:

2b2
a
—

7.3 Q3
Find normal to parabola y 2 = 4x with slope −2.
Solve:

m = −t ⇒ t = 2

Point: (4, 4)
Equation:

y − 4 = −2(x − 4)

—
============================== REVISION SHEET ==============

8. REVISION SHEET (COMPLETE)

• Parabola: y 2 = 4ax • Asymptotes of hyperbola: y = ±(b/a)x

• Tangent: ty = x + at2 • Director circle of hyperbola: x2 + y 2 =


a2 + b 2
• Normal: y = −tx + 2at + at3

• Ellipse: x2 /a2 + y 2 /b2 = 1 • Chord of contact: T = 0

• Hyperbola: x2 /a2 − y 2 /b2 = 1 • Pair of tangents: SS1 = T 2

• Parametric forms (all three) • Foci: (±ae, 0)

• Latus rectum: 2b2 /a • Directrices: x = ±a/e

One-Line Essence: Conics = Standard form → Parametric → Tangent/Normal


algebra. Master these and every JEE conic question is crackable.

Common questions

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The reflective properties of conics use their geometric nature; for a parabola, the angle made with the axis is equal to the angle made with the normal, reflecting light to a focus . For an ellipse, the sum of distances from any point on the ellipse to the two foci is constant, which conveys that paths reflecting off an ellipse converge at a point . For a hyperbola, the difference in distances from any point on the hyperbola to the two foci remains constant, a unique trajectory reflection distinguishing hyperbolas .

The conics are differentiated by their eccentricity, 'e'. For a parabola, the eccentricity e is equal to 1. For an ellipse, e is less than 1, and it is expressed as e = √(1-b²/a²), where a and b are the ellipse's semi-major and semi-minor axes respectively . For a hyperbola, e is greater than 1, mathematically expressed as e = √(1+b²/a²), where a and b are similar parameters concerning the axes of the hyperbola .

The standard form of an ellipse is x²/a² + y²/b² = 1 . The parametric form is written as x = a cos θ, y = b sin θ . Transitioning to the parametric form is beneficial because it simplifies calculations for defining points and drawing tangents or normals to the ellipse, directly relating angles to locations, which is advantageous in solving JEE problems .

A latus rectum is a line segment perpendicular to the major (or transverse) axis of a conic section, passing through a focus. For an ellipse, its length is 2b²/a, and for a hyperbola, it is calculated similarly as 2b²/a . These lengths are critical for understanding the scale and proportionality differences in conics, often used in JEE problems to derive other properties .

The parametric equation of a hyperbola is derived using the identities for hyperbolic functions; it is expressed as x = a sec θ, y = b tan θ . This parametric form is significant as it simplifies the derivation of tangent and normal equations at any point (x1, y1) located on the hyperbola, facilitating easier calculations for JEE problems .

Eccentricity determines the position of directrices relative to the conic's axes. For an ellipse with eccentricity e = √(1-b²/a²), the directrix is x = ±a/e . For a hyperbola, with eccentricity e = √(1+b²/a²), it results in directrices located at x = ±a/e . Calculating these positions provides insight into the extent and orientation of the geometric figure .

The director circle concept, specific to conics, simplifies and enhances problem-solving by identifying potential tangent affinities and focusing on generalized geometric properties. For ellipses, it reduces to a circle when a = b, maximizing symmetry . For hyperbolas, it represents a circle x² + y² = a² + b², underlying the hyperbola's asymptotic nature and influencing tangent-angle comprehension. It abstracts these relationships into manageable forms, powerful in higher-level reasoning and calculating intersections and extremal properties .

To determine the tangent to a parabola at a given parametric point, use the point where the parabola is defined in its parametric form, say (at², 2at). The tangent equation at this point is derived through the relationship ty = x + at², which leverages the parametric variable 't' aligned with the parabolic curve's properties .

The equation for the normal to a parabola at a given slope is derived by establishing the relationship between the slope 'm' and the parabolic parameter 't' as m = -t. For a parabola y² = 4ax, with slope -2, using m = -t, so t = 2, leading to the point (4, 4) and the normal equation: y - 4 = -2(x - 4). Its importance lies in understanding how curves interact with their axes, relevant in geometric problem-solving and analysis .

Asymptotes of a hyperbola, derived via the equation y = ±(b/a)x, provide critical insights into its open-ended structure, serving as imaginary boundaries that the branches approach but never cross . These lines help in understanding the spread and direction of a hyperbola, revealing symmetric properties and behavior in infinite directions, essential for solving advanced geometric and analytic scenarios .

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