Eugene is a qualified control/instrumentation engineer Bsc (Eng) and has worked as a developer of electronics & software for SCADA systems.

The Parabola, a Mathematical Function

In this tutorial you'll learn about a mathematical function called the parabola. We'll cover the definition of the parabola first and how it relates to the solid shape called the cone. Next we'll explore different ways in which the equation of a parabola can be expressed. Also covered will be how to work out the maxima and minima of a parabola and how to find the intersection with the x and y axes. Finally we'll discover what a quadratic equation is and how you can solve it.

Definition of a Parabola

"A locus is a curve or other figure formed by all the points satisfying a particular equation."

One way we can define a parabola is that it is the locus of points that are equidistant from both a line called the directrix and a point called the focus. So each point P on the parabola is the same distance from the focus as it is from the directrix as you can see in the animation below.

We notice also that when x is 0, the distance from P to the vertex equals the distance from the vertex to the directrix. So the focus and directrix are equidistant from the vertex.

A Parabola is a Conic Section

Another way of defining a parabola

When a plane intersects a cone, we get different shapes or conic sections where the plane intersects the outer surface of the cone. If the plane is parallel to the bottom of the cone, we just get a circle. As the angle A in the animation below changes, it eventually becomes equal to B and the conic section is a parabola.

Equations of Parabolas

There are several ways we can express the equation of a parabola:

• As a quadratic function
• Vertex form
• Focus form

We'll explore these later, but first let's look at the simplest parabola.

The Simplest Parabola y = x²

^{The simplest parabola with the vertex at the origin, point (0,0) on the graph, has the equation y = x².}

^{The value of y is simply the value of x multiplied by itself.}

Graph of y = x² - The Simplest Parabola

Let's Give x a Coefficient!

The simplest parabola is y = x² but if we give x a coefficient, we can generate an infinite number of parabolas with different "widths" depending on the value of the coefficient ɑ.

So lets make y = ɑx²

In the graph below, ɑ has various values. Notice that when ɑ is negative, the parabola is "upside down". We'll discover more about this later. Remember the y = ɑx² form of the equation of a parabola is when its vertex is at the origin.

Making ɑ smaller results in a "wider" parabola. If we make ɑ bigger, the parabola gets narrower.

Turning the Simplest Parabola on Its Side

If we turn the parabola y = x² on its side, we get a new function y² = x or x = y². This just means we can think of y as being the independent variable and squaring it gives us the corresponding value for x.

So:

When y = 2, x = y² = 4

when y = 3, x = y² = 9

when y = 4, x = y² = 16

and so on...

Just like the case of the vertical parabola, we can again add a coefficient to y^2.

So we have x = ɑy²

Vertex Form of a Parabola Parallel to Y Axis

One way we can express the equation of a parabola is in terms of the coordinates of the vertex. The equation depends on whether the axis of the parabola is parallel to the x or y axis, but in both cases, the vertex is located at the coordinates (h,k). In the equations, ɑ is a coefficient and can have any value.

When the axis is parallel to y axis:

y = ɑ(x - h)² + k

if ɑ = 1 and (h,k) is the origin (0,0) we get the simple parabola we saw at the start of the tutorial:

y = 1(x - 0)² + 0 = x²

When the axis is parallel to the x axis:

x = ɑ(y - h)² + k

Notice that this doesn't give us any information about the location of the focus or directrix.

Equation of a Parabola in Terms of the Coordinates of the Focus

Another way of expressing the equation of a parabola is in terms of the coordinates of the vertex (h,k) and the focus.

We saw that:

y = ɑ(x - h)² + k

Using Pythagoras's Theorem we can prove that the coefficient ɑ = 1/4p, where p is the distance from the focus to the vertex. Substituting this into the equation above gives us an equation in terms of the focus:

When the axis of symmetry is parallel to y axis:

y = ɑ(x - h)² + k = 1/(4p)(x - h)² + k

Multiply both sides of the equation by 4p:

4py = (x - h)² + 4pk

Rearrange:

4p(y - k) = (x - h)²

or

(x - h)² = 4p(y - k)

Similarly:

When the axis of symmetry is parallel to x axis:

(y - k)² = 4p(x - h)

Example:

Find the focus for the simplest parabola y = x²

Answer:

Since the parabola is parallel to the y axis, we use the equation we learned about above

(x - h)² = 4p(y - k)

First find the vertex, the point where the parabola intersects the y axis (for this simple parabola, we know the vertex occurs at x = 0)

So set x = 0, giving y = x² = 0² = 0

and the therefore the vertex occurs at (0,0)

But the vertex is (h,k), therefore h = 0 and k = 0

Substituting for the values of h and k, the equation (x - h)² = 4p(y - k) simplifies to

(x - 0)² = 4p(y - 0)

giving us

x² = 4py

Now compare this to our original equation for the parabola y = x²

We can rewrite this as x² = y, but the coefficient of y is 1, so 4p must equal 1 and p = 1/4.

From the graph above, we know the coordinates of the focus are (h, k + p), so substituting the values we worked out for h, k and p gives us the coordinates of the vertex as

(0, 0 + 1/4) or (0, 1/4)

A Quadratic Function is a Parabola

Consider the function y = ɑx² + bx + c

This is called a quadratic function because of the square on the x variable.

This is another way we can express the equation of a parabola.

How to Determine Which Direction a Parabola Opens

Irrespective of which form of equation that is used to describe a parabola, the coefficient of x² determines whether a parabola will "open up" or "open down". Open up means that the parabola will have a minimum and the value of y will increase on both sides of the minimum. Open down means it will have a maximum and the value of y decreases on both sides of the max.

• If ɑ is positive, the parabola will open up
• If ɑ is negative the parabola will open down

Parabola Opens Up or Opens Down

How to Find the Vertex of a Parabola

1. Expand out the equation into the form ɑx² + bx + c
2. Identify the coefficients a and b
3. The vertex occurs at x = -b/2ɑ (we can deduce this from simple calculus)
4. Plug the value -b/2ɑ into the equation to get the value of y

Example:

Find the vertex of the equation y = 5x² - 10x + 7

1. The coefficient a is positive, so the parabola opens up and the vertex is a minimum
2. ɑ = 5 and b = -10 so the minimum occurs at -b/2ɑ = - (-10)/(2(5)) = 1
3. Substitute for x giving:
   
   y = 5x² - 10x + 7
   
   = 5(1)² - 10(1) + 7
   
   = 5 - 10 + 7
   
   = 2

So the vertex occurs at (1,2)

How to Find the X-Intercepts of a Parabola

A quadratic function y = ɑx² + bx + c is the equation of a parabola.

If we set the quadratic function to zero, we get a quadratic equation

i.e. ɑx² + bx + c = 0 .

Graphically, equating the function to zero means setting a condition of the function such that the y value is 0, in other words, where the parabola intercepts the x axis.

The solutions of the quadratic equation allow us to find these two points. If there are no real number solutions, i.e. the solutions are imaginary numbers, the parabola doesn't intersect the x axis.

The solutions of a quadratic equation are given by the equation:

x = -b ± √(b² -4ac) / 2ɑ

Finding the Roots of a Quadratic Equation

Example 1: Find the x-axis intercepts of the parabola y = 3x² + 7x + 2

Solution

• y = ɑx² + bx + c

• In our example y = 3x² + 7x + 2

• Identify the coefficients and constant c

• So ɑ = 3, b = 7 and c = 2

• The roots of the quadratic equation 3x² + 7x + 2 = 0 are at x = -b ± √(b² - 4ɑc) / 2ɑ

• Substitute for ɑ, b and c

• The first root is at x = -7 + √(7² -4(3)(2)) / (2(3) = -1/3

• The second root is at -7 - √(7² -4(3)(2)) / (2(3) = -2

• So the x axis intercepts occur at (-2, 0) and (-1/3, 0)

Example 2: Find the x-axis intercepts of the parabola with vertex located at (4, 6) and focus at (4, 3)

Solution

• The equation of the parabola in focus vertex form is (x - h)² = 4p(y - k)
• The vertex is at (h,k) giving us h = 4, k = 6
• The focus is located at (h, k + p). In this example the focus is at (4, 3) so k + p = 3. But k = 6 so p = 3 - 6 = -3
• Plug the values into the equation (x - h)² = 4p(y - k) so (x - 4)² = 4(-3)(y - 6)
• Simplify giving (x - 4)² = -12(y - 6)
• Expand out the equation gives us x² - 8x + 16 = -12y + 72
• Rearrange 12y = -x² + 8x + 56
• Giving y = -1/12x² + 2/3x + 14/3

• The coefficients are a = -1/12, b = 2/3, c = 14/3

• The roots are at -2/3 ± √((2/3)² - 4(-1/12)(14/3))/(2(-1/12)

• This gives us x = -4.49 approx and x = 12.49 approx
• So the x axis intercepts occur at (-4.49, 0) and (12.49, 0)

How to Find the Y-Intercepts of a Parabola

To find the y-axis intercept (y-intercept) of a parabola, we set x to 0 and calculate the value of y.

Example 3: Find the y-intercept of the parabola y = 6x² + 4x + 7

Solution:

y = 6x² + 4x + 7

Set x to 0 giving

6(0)² + 4(0) + 7 = 7

The intercept occurs at (0, 7)

Summary of Parabola Equations

How the Parabola is Used in the Real World

The parabola isn't just confined to math. The parabola shape appears in nature and we use it in science and technology because of its properties.

• When you kick a ball into the air or a projectile is fired, the trajectory is a parabola
• The reflectors of vehicle headlights or flashlights are parabolic shaped
• The mirror in a reflecting telescope is parabolic
• Satellite dishes are in the shape of a parabola as are radar dishes

For radar dishes, satellite dishes and radio telescopes, one of the parabola's properties is that a ray of electromagnetic radiation parallel to its axis will be reflected towards the focus. Conversely in the case of a headlight or torch, light coming from the focus will be reflected off the reflector and travel outwards in a parallel beam.

Related reading: Deriving Projectile Motion Equations

Acknowledgements

All graphics were created using GeoGebra Classic.

© 2019 Eugene Brennan

Comments

Srinjan Sanyal on May 27, 2020:

the content is very good.

rafia from lahore pakistna on September 29, 2019:

hey you are a nice teacher! i previously did not know the open up or down graph ..but now i do ..thank you!