Identify nondegenerate conic sections given their general form equations.
Use rotation of axes formulas.
Write equations of rotated conics in standard form.
Identify conics without rotating axes.
As we have seen, conic sections are formed when a plane intersects two right circular cones aligned tip to tip and extending infinitely far in opposite directions, which we also call a cone. The way in which we slice the cone will determine the type of conic section formed at the intersection. A circle is formed by slicing a cone with a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the cone. An ellipse is formed by slicing a single cone with a slanted plane not perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. A parabola is formed by slicing the plane through the top or bottom of the double-cone, whereas a hyperbola is formed when the plane slices both the top and bottom of the cone.
Figure 1. The nondegenerate conic sections
Ellipses, circles, hyperbolas, and parabolas are sometimes called the nondegenerate conic sections, in contrast to the degenerate conic sections, which are shown in Figure 2. A degenerate conic results when a plane intersects the double cone and passes through the apex. Depending on the angle of the plane, three types of degenerate conic sections are possible: a point, a line, or two intersecting lines.
Figure 2. Degenerate conic sections
Identifying Nondegenerate Conics in General Form
In previous sections of this chapter, we have focused on the standard form equations for nondegenerate conic sections. In this section, we will shift our focus to the general form equation, which can be used for any conic. The general form is set equal to zero, and the terms and coefficients are given in a particular order, as shown below.
Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0
where A,B, and C are not all zero. We can use the values of the coefficients to identify which type conic is represented by a given equation.
You may notice that the general form equation has an xy term that we have not seen in any of the standard form equations. As we will discuss later, the xy term rotates the conic whenever B is not equal to zero.
Conic Sections
Example
ellipse
4x2+9y2=1
circle
4x2+4y2=1
hyperbola
4x2−9y2=1
parabola
4x2=9y or 4y2=9x
one line
4x+9y=1
intersecting lines
(x−4)(y+4)=0
parallel lines
(x−4)(x−9)=0
a point
4x2+4y2=0
no graph
4x2+4y2=−1
A General Note: General Form of Conic Sections
A nondegenerate conic section has the general form
Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0
where A,B, and C are not all zero.
The table below summarizes the different conic sections where B=0, and A and C are nonzero real numbers. This indicates that the conic has not been rotated.
ellipse
Ax2+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0,A=C and AC>0
circle
Ax2+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0,A=C
hyperbola
Ax2−Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0 or −Ax2+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0, where A and C are positive
parabola
Ax2+Dx+Ey+F=0 or Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0
How To: Given the equation of a conic, identify the type of conic.
Rewrite the equation in the general form, Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0.
Identify the values of A and C from the general form.
If A and C are nonzero, have the same sign, and are not equal to each other, then the graph is an ellipse.
If A and C are equal and nonzero and have the same sign, then the graph is a circle.
If A and C are nonzero and have opposite signs, then the graph is a hyperbola.
If either A or C is zero, then the graph is a parabola.
Example 1: Identifying a Conic from Its General Form
Identify the graph of each of the following nondegenerate conic sections.
4x2−9y2+36x+36y−125=0
9y2+16x+36y−10=0
3x2+3y2−2x−6y−4=0
−25x2−4y2+100x+16y+20=0
Solution
Rewriting the general form, we have
A=4 and C=−9, so we observe that A and C have opposite signs. The graph of this equation is a hyperbola.
Rewriting the general form, we have
A=0 and C=9. We can determine that the equation is a parabola, since A is zero.
Rewriting the general form, we have
A=3 and C=3. Because A=C, the graph of this equation is a circle.
Rewriting the general form, we have A=−25 and C=−4. Because AC>0 and A=C, the graph of this equation is an ellipse.
Try It 1
Identify the graph of each of the following nondegenerate conic sections.
Finding a New Representation of the Given Equation after Rotating through a Given Angle
Until now, we have looked at equations of conic sections without an xy term, which aligns the graphs with the x- and y-axes. When we add an xy term, we are rotating the conic about the origin. If the x- and y-axes are rotated through an angle, say θ, then every point on the plane may be thought of as having two representations: (x,y) on the Cartesian plane with the original x-axis and y-axis, and (x′,y′) on the new plane defined by the new, rotated axes, called the x'-axis and y'-axis.
Figure 3. The graph of the rotated ellipse x2+y2−xy−15=0
We will find the relationships between x and y on the Cartesian plane with x′ and y′ on the new rotated plane.
Figure 4. The Cartesian plane with x- and y-axes and the resulting x′− and y′−axes formed by a rotation by an angle θ.
The original coordinate x- and y-axes have unit vectors i and j. The rotated coordinate axes have unit vectors i′ and j′. The angle θ is known as the angle of rotation. We may write the new unit vectors in terms of the original ones.
i′=cosθi+sinθjj′=−sinθi+cosθj
Figure 5. Relationship between the old and new coordinate planes.
Consider a vectoruin the new coordinate plane. It may be represented in terms of its coordinate axes.
u=x′i′+y′j′u=x′(icosθ+jsinθ)+y′(−isinθ+jcosθ)u=ix’cosθ+jx’sinθ−iy’sinθ+jy’cosθu=ix’cosθ−iy’sinθ+jx’sinθ+jy’cosθu=(x’cosθ−y’sinθ)i+(x’sinθ+y’cosθ)jSubstitute.Distribute.Apply commutative property.Factor by grouping.
Because u=x′i′+y′j′, we have representations of x and y in terms of the new coordinate system.
x=x′cosθ−y′sinθandy=x′sinθ+y′cosθ
A General Note: Equations of Rotation
If a point (x,y) on the Cartesian plane is represented on a new coordinate plane where the axes of rotation are formed by rotating an angle θ from the positive x-axis, then the coordinates of the point with respect to the new axes are (x′,y′). We can use the following equations of rotation to define the relationship between (x,y) and (x′,y′):
x=x′cosθ−y′sinθ
and
y=x′sinθ+y′cosθ
How To: Given the equation of a conic, find a new representation after rotating through an angle.
Find x and y where x=x′cosθ−y′sinθ and y=x′sinθ+y′cosθ.
Substitute the expression for x and y into in the given equation, then simplify.
Write the equations with x′ and y′ in standard form.
Example 2: Finding a New Representation of an Equation after Rotating through a Given Angle
Find a new representation of the equation 2x2−xy+2y2−30=0 after rotating through an angle of θ=45∘.
Solution
Find x and y, where x=x′cosθ−y′sinθ and y=x′sinθ+y′cosθ.
Because θ=45∘,
)2)2(x′−y′)(x′−y′)−2(x′−y′)(x′+y′)+)2)2(x′+y′)(x′+y′)−30=0x′2)−2x′y′+y′2−2(x′2−y′2)+x′2)+2x′y′+y′2−30=02x′2+2y′2−2(x′2−y′2)=302(2x′2+2y′2−2(x′2−y′2))=2(30)4x′2+4y′2−(x′2−y′2)=604x′2+4y′2−x′2+y′2=60603x′2+605y′2=6060FOIL methodCombine like terms.Combine like terms.Multiply both sides by 2.Simplify.Distribute.Set equal to 1.
Write the equations with x′ and y′ in the standard form.
20x′2+12y′2=1
This equation is an ellipse. Figure 6 shows the graph.
Figure 6
Writing Equations of Rotated Conics in Standard Form
Now that we can find the standard form of a conic when we are given an angle of rotation, we will learn how to transform the equation of a conic given in the form Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0 into standard form by rotating the axes. To do so, we will rewrite the general form as an equation in the x′ and y′ coordinate system without the x′y′ term, by rotating the axes by a measure of θ that satisfies
cot(2θ)=BA−C
We have learned already that any conic may be represented by the second degree equation
Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0
where A,B, and C are not all zero. However, if B=0, then we have an xy term that prevents us from rewriting the equation in standard form. To eliminate it, we can rotate the axes by an acute angle θ where cot(2θ)=BA−C.
If cot(2θ)>0, then 2θ is in the first quadrant, and θ is between (0∘,45∘).
If cot(2θ)<0, then 2θ is in the second quadrant, and θ is between (45∘,90∘).
If A=C, then θ=45∘.
How To: Given an equation for a conic in the x′y′ system, rewrite the equation without the x′y′ term in terms of x′ and y′, where the x′ and y′ axes are rotations of the standard axes by θ degrees.
Find cot(2θ).
Find sinθ and cosθ.
Substitute sinθ and cosθ into x=x′cosθ−y′sinθ and y=x′sinθ+y′cosθ.
Substitute the expression for x and y into in the given equation, and then simplify.
Write the equations with x′ and y′ in the standard form with respect to the rotated axes.
Example 3: Rewriting an Equation with respect to the x′ and y′ axes without the x′y′ Term
Rewrite the equation 8x2−12xy+17y2=20 in the x′y′ system without an x′y′ term.
Now we substitute x=133x′−2y′ and y=132x′+3y′ into x2+12xy−4y2=30.
(133x′−2y′)2+12(133x′−2y′)(132x′+3y′)−4(132x′+3y′)2=30(131)[(3x′−2y′)2+12(3x′−2y′)(2x′+3y′)−4(2x′+3y′)2]=30(131)[9x′2−12x′y′+4y′2+12(6x′2+5x′y′−6y′2)−4(4x′2+12x′y′+9y′2)]=30(131)[9x′2−12x′y′+4y′2+72x′2+60x′y′−72y′2−16x′2−48x′y′−36y′2]=30(131)[65x′2−104y′2]=3065x′2−104y′2=3906x′2−154y′2=1Factor.Multiply.Distribute.Combine like terms.Multiply.Divide by 390.
Figure 10 shows the graph of the hyperbola 6x′2−154y′2=1.
Figure 10
Identifying Conics without Rotating Axes
Now we have come full circle. How do we identify the type of conic described by an equation? What happens when the axes are rotated? Recall, the general form of a conic is
Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0
If we apply the rotation formulas to this equation we get the form
A′x′2+B′x′y′+C′y′2+D′x′+E′y′+F′=0
It may be shown that B2−4AC=B′2−4A′C′. The expression does not vary after rotation, so we call the expression invariant. The discriminant, B2−4AC, is invariant and remains unchanged after rotation. Because the discriminant remains unchanged, observing the discriminant enables us to identify the conic section.
A General Note: Using the Discriminant to Identify a Conic
If the equation Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0 is transformed by rotating axes into the equation A′x′2+B′x′y′+C′y′2+D′x′+E′y′+F′=0, then B2−4AC=B′2−4A′C′.
The equation Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0 is an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola, or a degenerate case of one of these.
If the discriminant, B2−4AC, is
<0, the conic section is an ellipse
=0, the conic section is a parabola
>0, the conic section is a hyperbola
Example 5: Identifying the Conic without Rotating Axes
Identify the conic for each of the following without rotating axes.
5x2+23xy+2y2−5=0
5x2+23xy+12y2−5=0
Solution
Let’s begin by determining A,B, and C.
A5x2+B23xy+C2y2−5=0
Now, we find the discriminant.
B2−4AC=(23)2−4(5)(2)=4(3)−40=12−40=−28<0
Therefore, 5x2+23xy+2y2−5=0 represents an ellipse.
Again, let’s begin by determining A,B, and C.
A5x2+B23xy+C12y2−5=0
Now, we find the discriminant.
B2−4AC=(23)2−4(5)(12)=4(3)−240=12−240=−228<0
Therefore, 5x2+23xy+12y2−5=0 represents an ellipse.
Try It 3
Identify the conic for each of the following without rotating axes.
Four basic shapes can result from the intersection of a plane with a pair of right circular cones connected tail to tail. They include an ellipse, a circle, a hyperbola, and a parabola.
A nondegenerate conic section has the general form Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0 where A,B and C are not all zero. The values of A,B, and C determine the type of conic.
Equations of conic sections with an xy term have been rotated about the origin.
The general form can be transformed into an equation in the x′ and y′ coordinate system without the x′y′ term.
An expression is described as invariant if it remains unchanged after rotating. Because the discriminant is invariant, observing it enables us to identify the conic section.
Glossary
angle of rotation
an acute angle formed by a set of axes rotated from the Cartesian plane where, if cot(2θ)>0, then θ is between (0∘,45∘); if cot(2θ)<0, then θ is between (45∘,90∘); and if cot(2θ)=0, then θ=45∘
degenerate conic sections
any of the possible shapes formed when a plane intersects a double cone through the apex. Types of degenerate conic sections include a point, a line, and intersecting lines.
nondegenerate conic section
a shape formed by the intersection of a plane with a double right cone such that the plane does not pass through the apex; nondegenerate conics include circles, ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas
Section Exercises
1. What effect does the xy term have on the graph of a conic section?
2. If the equation of a conic section is written in the form Ax2+By2+Cx+Dy+E=0 and AB=0, what can we conclude?
3. If the equation of a conic section is written in the form Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0, and B2−4AC>0, what can we conclude?
4. Given the equation ax2+4x+3y2−12=0, what can we conclude if a>0?
5. For the equation Ax2+Bxy+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0, the value of θ that satisfies cot(2θ)=BA−C gives us what information?
For the following exercises, determine which conic section is represented based on the given equation.
6. 9x2+4y2+72x+36y−500=0
7. x2−10x+4y−10=0
8. 2x2−2y2+4x−6y−2=0
9. 4x2−y2+8x−1=0
10. 4y2−5x+9y+1=0
11. 2x2+3y2−8x−12y+2=0
12. 4x2+9xy+4y2−36y−125=0
13. 3x2+6xy+3y2−36y−125=0
14. −3x2+33xy−4y2+9=0
15. 2x2+43xy+6y2−6x−3=0
16. −x2+42xy+2y2−2y+1=0
17. 8x2+42xy+4y2−10x+1=0
For the following exercises, find a new representation of the given equation after rotating through the given angle.
18. 3x2+xy+3y2−5=0,θ=45∘
19. 4x2−xy+4y2−2=0,θ=45∘
20. 2x2+8xy−1=0,θ=30∘
21. −2x2+8xy+1=0,θ=45∘
22. 4x2+2xy+4y2+y+2=0,θ=45∘
For the following exercises, determine the angle θ that will eliminate the xy term and write the corresponding equation without the xy term.
23. x2+33xy+4y2+y−2=0
24. 4x2+23xy+6y2+y−2=0
25. 9x2−33xy+6y2+4y−3=0
26. −3x2−3xy−2y2−x=0
27. 16x2+24xy+9y2+6x−6y+2=0
28. x2+4xy+4y2+3x−2=0
29. x2+4xy+y2−2x+1=0
30. 4x2−23xy+6y2−1=0
For the following exercises, rotate through the given angle based on the given equation. Give the new equation and graph the original and rotated equation.
31. y=−x2,θ=−45∘
32. x=y2,θ=45∘
33. 4x2+1y2=1,θ=45∘
34. 16y2+9x2=1,θ=45∘
35. y2−x2=1,θ=45∘
36. y=2x2,θ=30∘
37. x=(y−1)2,θ=30∘
38. 9x2+4y2=1,θ=30∘
For the following exercises, graph the equation relative to the x′y′ system in which the equation has no x′y′ term.
39. xy=9
40. x2+10xy+y2−6=0
41. x2−10xy+y2−24=0
42. 4x2−33xy+y2−22=0
43. 6x2+23xy+4y2−21=0
44. 11x2+103xy+y2−64=0
45. 21x2+23xy+19y2−18=0
46. 16x2+24xy+9y2−130x+90y=0
47. 16x2+24xy+9y2−60x+80y=0
48. 13x2−63xy+7y2−16=0
49. 4x2−4xy+y2−85x−165y=0
For the following exercises, determine the angle of rotation in order to eliminate the xy term. Then graph the new set of axes.
50. 6x2−53xy+y2+10x−12y=0
51. 6x2−5xy+6y2+20x−y=0
52. 6x2−83xy+14y2+10x−3y=0
53. 4x2+63xy+10y2+20x−40y=0
54. 8x2+3xy+4y2+2x−4=0
55. 16x2+24xy+9y2+20x−44y=0
For the following exercises, determine the value of k based on the given equation.
56. Given 4x2+kxy+16y2+8x+24y−48=0, find k for the graph to be a parabola.
57. Given 2x2+kxy+12y2+10x−16y+28=0, find k for the graph to be an ellipse.
58. Given 3x2+kxy+4y2−6x+20y+128=0, find k for the graph to be a hyperbola.
59. Given kx2+8xy+8y2−12x+16y+18=0, find k for the graph to be a parabola.
60. Given 6x2+12xy+ky2+16x+10y+4=0, find k for the graph to be an ellipse.