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Parametric Equations of a Parabola

We will learn in the simplest way how to find the parametric equations of a parabola.

The best and easiest form to represent the co-ordinates of any point on the parabola y2 = 4ax is (at2, 2at). Since, for all the values of ‘t’ the coordinates (at2, 2at) satisfy the equation of the parabola y2 =  4ax.

Together the equations x = at2 and y = 2at (where t is the parameter) are called the parametric equations of the parabola y2 = 4ax.

Let us discuss the parametric coordinates of a point and their parametric equations on the other standard forms of the parabola.


The following gives the parametric coordinates of a point on four standard forms of the parabola and their parametric equations.

Standard equation of the parabola y2 = -4ax:

Parametric coordinates of the parabola y2 = -4ax are (-at2, 2at).

Parametric equations of the parabola y2 = -4ax are x = -at2, y = 2at.

 

Standard equation of the parabola x2 = 4ay:

Parametric coordinates of the parabola x2 = 4ay are (2at, at2).

Parametric equations of the parabola x2 = 4ay are x = 2at, y = at2.


Standard equation of the parabola x2 = -4ay:

Parametric coordinates of the parabola x2 = -4ay are (2at, -at2).

Parametric equations of the parabola x2 = -4ay are x = 2at, y = -at2.


Standard equation of the parabola (y - k)2 = 4a(x - h):

The parametric equations of the parabola (y - k)2 = 4a(x - h) are x = h + at2 and y = k + 2at.


Solved examples to find the parametric equations of a parabola:

1. Write the parametric equations of the parabola y2 = 12x.

Solution:

The given equation y2 = 12x is of the form of y2 = 4ax. On comparing the equation y2 = 12x with the equation y2 = 4ax we get, 4a = 12 ⇒ a = 3.

Therefore, the parametric equations of the given parabola are x = 3t2 and y = 6t.


2. Write the parametric equations of the parabola x2 = 8y.

Solution:

The given equation x2 = 8y is of the form of x2 = 4ay. On comparing the equation x2 = 8y with the equation x2 = 4ay we get, 4a = 8 ⇒ a = 2.

Therefore, the parametric equations of the given parabola are x = 4t and y = 2t2.

 

3. Write the parametric equations of the parabola (y - 2)2 = 8(x - 2).

Solution:

The given equation (y - 2)2 = 8(x - 2) is of the form of (y - k)2 = 4a(x - h). On comparing the equation (y - 2)2 = 8(x - 2) with the equation (y - k)2 = 4a(x - h) we get, 4a = 8 ⇒ a = 2 , h = 2 and k = 2.

Therefore, the parametric equations of the given parabola are x = 2t2 + 2 and y = 4t + 2.

● The Parabola




11 and 12 Grade Math 

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