Back to homeMathematics · Secondary Year 5 · Change subject
Start for free
Notes

Exercises: Parabola

Practice★☆☆
Find the standard equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin of coordinates and focus at the point $F(0, 3)$.

Find the standard equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin of coordinates and focus at the point $F(0, 3)$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Determine the coordinates of the vertex, the focus, and the equation of the directrix of the parabola with equation $y^2 = -10x$.

Determine the coordinates of the vertex, the focus, and the equation of the directrix of the parabola with equation $y^2 = -10x$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Write the equation of the parabola whose vertex is the point $V(2, -1)$ and whose directrix is the line $x = 4$.

Write the equation of the parabola whose vertex is the point $V(2, -1)$ and whose directrix is the line $x = 4$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Find the locus of points in the plane that are equidistant from the point $A(0, 4)$ and the horizontal line $y = -4$.

Find the locus of points in the plane that are equidistant from the point $A(0, 4)$ and the horizontal line $y = -4$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Calculate the coordinates of the points of intersection of the parabola $x^2 = 4y$ with the bisector line of the first quadrant $y = x$.

Calculate the coordinates of the points of intersection of the parabola $x^2 = 4y$ with the bisector line of the first quadrant $y = x$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Identify whether the general equation $y^2 - 4y - 6x + 10 = 0$ corresponds to a parabola and, if so, find the coordinates of its vertex.

Identify whether the general equation $y^2 - 4y - 6x + 10 = 0$ corresponds to a parabola and, if so, find the coordinates of its vertex.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
The profile of a car halogen headlight has the shape of a parabola. If its equation relative to a frame of reference centered at the vertex is $y^2 = 12x$ (with…

The profile of a car halogen headlight has the shape of a parabola. If its equation relative to a frame of reference centered at the vertex is $y^2 = 12x$ (with measurements expressed in centimeters), at what distance from the vertex should the bulb be placed so that the light rays reflect parallel to the axis of symmetry?

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Find the equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin, axis of symmetry coinciding with the x-axis, and passing through the point $P(-2, 4)$.

Find the equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin, axis of symmetry coinciding with the x-axis, and passing through the point $P(-2, 4)$.

Solve
Practice★★☆
Given the general equation of the parabola $x^2 - 6x - 8y + 25 = 0$, complete the square to express it in its translated standard form and determine the coordinates of…

Given the general equation of the parabola $x^2 - 6x - 8y + 25 = 0$, complete the square to express it in its translated standard form and determine the coordinates of its vertex, its focus, and the equation of its directrix.

Solve
Practice★★☆
Find the equation of the tangent line to the parabola $y^2 = 8x$ at the point with y-coordinate $y = 4$.

Find the equation of the tangent line to the parabola $y^2 = 8x$ at the point with y-coordinate $y = 4$.

Solve
Practice★★☆
A parabolic arch of a stone bridge has a span (width at the base) of $40\text{ m}$ and a maximum height of $10\text{ m}$. Calculate the height of the arch at a…

A parabolic arch of a stone bridge has a span (width at the base) of $40\text{ m}$ and a maximum height of $10\text{ m}$. Calculate the height of the arch at a horizontal distance of $8\text{ m}$ from the center of the base.

Solve
Practice★★☆
Find the locus of the centers of the circles that are tangent to the line $y = -2$ and pass simultaneously through the point $P(0, 2)$. Identify the resulting conic…

Find the locus of the centers of the circles that are tangent to the line $y = -2$ and pass simultaneously through the point $P(0, 2)$. Identify the resulting conic section and detail its main elements.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The reflector of a parabolic antenna has an outer diameter of $2\text{ m}$ and a maximum depth of $0.25\text{ m}$. Determine at what distance from the vertex the focus…

The reflector of a parabolic antenna has an outer diameter of $2\text{ m}$ and a maximum depth of $0.25\text{ m}$. Determine at what distance from the vertex the focus is located where the signal receiver should be placed.

F 2 m 0.25 m
Solve
Practice★★☆
Determine the equation of the parabola with a vertical axis passing through the points $A(-1, 0)$, $B(1, -2)$ and $C(3, 4)$.

Determine the equation of the parabola with a vertical axis passing through the points $A(-1, 0)$, $B(1, -2)$ and $C(3, 4)$.

Solve
Practice★★☆
Study the relative position of the line $r: 2x + y - 3 = 0$ and the parabola $y^2 = 4x$. If they intersect, find the exact length of the chord determined by the…

Study the relative position of the line $r: 2x + y - 3 = 0$ and the parabola $y^2 = 4x$. If they intersect, find the exact length of the chord determined by the intersection of the line and the parabola.

Solve
Practice★★☆
Determine the value of the parameter $k$ so that the line $y = 2x + k$ is tangent to the parabola $x^2 = 2y$.

Determine the value of the parameter $k$ so that the line $y = 2x + k$ is tangent to the parabola $x^2 = 2y$.

Solve
Practice★★★
Find the equations of the tangent lines to the parabola $y^2 = 4x$ drawn from the external point $P(-1, 0)$.

Find the equations of the tangent lines to the parabola $y^2 = 4x$ drawn from the external point $P(-1, 0)$.

Solve
Practice★★★
Using the definition of a parabola as a locus, find the general equation of the parabola with focus at point $F(2, 3)$ and directrix given by the oblique line…

Using the definition of a parabola as a locus, find the general equation of the parabola with focus at point $F(2, 3)$ and directrix given by the oblique line $x + y - 1 = 0$.

Solve
Practice★★★
A water cannon launches a jet whose trajectory describes a parabola. The water leaves from the origin of coordinates and the jet reaches a maximum height of…

A water cannon launches a jet whose trajectory describes a parabola. The water leaves from the origin of coordinates and the jet reaches a maximum height of $15\text{ m}$ at a horizontal distance of $20\text{ m}$. Determine analytically whether the jet of water will manage to pass over a wall $10\text{ m}$ high located at a horizontal distance of $30\text{ m}$ from the launch point.

10 m 30 m 15 m 20 m
Solve
Practice★★★
Given the parabola with equation $y^2 = 2px$, prove analytically that the locus of the orthogonal projections of the focus onto the infinitely many tangent lines to the…

Given the parabola with equation $y^2 = 2px$, prove analytically that the locus of the orthogonal projections of the focus onto the infinitely many tangent lines to the parabola is precisely the tangent line at the vertex.

Solve
Practice★★★
Find the equation of the circle passing through the vertex of the parabola $y^2 = 8x$ and through the two points of intersection of this parabola with the vertical line…

Find the equation of the circle passing through the vertex of the parabola $y^2 = 8x$ and through the two points of intersection of this parabola with the vertical line $x = 2$.

Solve
Practice★★★
Determine the coordinates of the point on the parabola $x^2 = 4y$ that is at the minimum distance from the line $r: x - y - 4 = 0$. Also, calculate this minimum distance.

Determine the coordinates of the point on the parabola $x^2 = 4y$ that is at the minimum distance from the line $r: x - y - 4 = 0$. Also, calculate this minimum distance.

Solve
Practice★★★
Consider a parabolic mirror whose cross-section corresponds to the equation $y^2 = 4x$. A ray of light, parallel to the x-axis, strikes the mirror at point $P(1, 2)$.…

Consider a parabolic mirror whose cross-section corresponds to the equation $y^2 = 4x$. A ray of light, parallel to the x-axis, strikes the mirror at point $P(1, 2)$. Prove analytically that the line containing the reflected ray passes precisely through the focus of the parabola.

Solve
Practice★★★
A parabola has its vertex at point $V(1, 2)$ and its axis of symmetry is parallel to the y-axis. Given that the parabola is tangent to the line $y = x - 1$, find the…

A parabola has its vertex at point $V(1, 2)$ and its axis of symmetry is parallel to the y-axis. Given that the parabola is tangent to the line $y = x - 1$, find the general equation of the parabola and the exact coordinates of its focus.

Solve