DepEd Learning Activity Sheets (LAS)

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PRE-CALCULUS
PARABOLA
Week No. 2

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS

DEINITION: PARABOLA is the set of all points in a plane equidistant from a fixed point
and a fixed line.
(1) vertex: origin V (0, 0)
If the parabola opens upward, the vertex is the lowest point. If the parabola
opens downward, the vertex is the highest point.
(2) directrix: the line y = −c or y = c
•The directrix is c units below or above the vertex.
(3) focus: F (0, c) or F (0, −c)
• The focus is c units above or below the vertex.
Any point on the parabola has the same distance from the focus as it has from
the directrix.
(4) axis of symmetry: x = 0 (the y-axis)
This line divides the parabola into two parts which are mirror images of each other.
The distance from the vertex to the focus (or directrix) is called the focal distance (a). The latus rectum
is a segment containing the focus, with endpoints on the parabola and perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.
The length of the latus rectum is 4a.
Using the distance formula to form the equation of the parabola:
PQ = PF
√(−𝑥 − 0)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑎)2 = √(−𝑥 + 𝑥)2 + (𝑦 + 𝑎)2
√(−𝑥)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑎)2 = √(𝑦 + 𝑎)2
(−𝑥)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑎)2 = (𝑦 + 𝑎)2
𝑥 + 𝑦2 − 2𝑎𝑦 + 𝑎2 = 𝑦2 + 2𝑎𝑦 + 𝑎2 = 4𝑎𝑦
2

The standard form of an equation of a parabola with vertex (0, 0), focus (0, a), a > 0 and its opening
upward is 𝑥2 = 4ay.

Standard Form of the Equation of a Parabola with Vertex at the Origin (0,0)
Focus Equation Parabolas Directrix Axis of
opens Symmetry
(𝑎, 0) 𝑦2 = 4ax to the right x = −a y=0
(−𝑎, 0) 𝑦2 = −4ax to the left x=a y=0
(0, 𝑎) 𝑥2 = 4ay Upward y = −a x=0
(0, −𝑎) 𝑥2 = −4ay Downward y=a x=0

LEARNING COMPETENCY WITH CODE: (STEM_PC11AG-Ia-5) define a parabola;

(STEM_PC11AG-Ib-1) determine the standard form of equation of a parabola.

Example 1
Determine the coordinates of the vertex, axis of symmetry, focal distance (𝑎), length of latus rectum and endpoints
of the latus rectum of the parabola 𝑥2 = − 4y. Sketch the graph.
SOLUTION
• From the equation 𝑥2 = − 4y,
• vertex is at (0, 0),
• axis of symmetry is given by the linear equation x = 0
• focal distance is 2 units.
• The length of the latus rectum is 4 units
• its endpoints are (−2, − 1) and (2, −1). The parabola opens
downward.
We use the vertex (0,0), the length the latus rectum which is 4 units
and its endpoints (−2, − 1) and (2, −1) to graph the parabola.

Example 2
Determine the vertex, axis of symmetry, focus, focal distance (𝑎), length
and endpoints of the latus rectum of the parabola 𝑦2 = 12x. Graph the
parabola.

SOLUTION
From the equation 𝑦2 = 12x,
• vertex is at (0, 0),
• axis of symmetry is given by the linear equation y = 0,
• focus is at (3,0) and the focal distance is 3 units.
• The length of the latus rectum is 12 units
• its endpoints are A (3, 6) and B (3, −6). The parabola opens to the
right. We use the coordinates of the vertex, endpoints and length
of the latus rectum to graph the parabola.

ACTIVITY #1:
DIRECTION:
Determine the coordinates of the vertex, axis of symmetry, focus, focal distance (𝑎), length of latus rectum and
endpoints of the latus rectum of the parabola with the given equation. Sketch the graph.

I. 𝑥2 = 4y
1. Vertex: ______________________
2. Axis of Symmetry: ________________________
3. Focus: __________________________
4. Focal distance (a): __________________
5. Endpoints of the Latus Rectum: _______________________
6. Length of latus rectum: _________________________

II. 𝑦2 = 16x
1. Vertex: ______________________
2. Axis of Symmetry: ________________________
3. Focus: __________________________
4. Focal distance (a): __________________
5. Endpoints of the Latus Rectum: _______________________
6. Length of latus rectum: _________________________
 III. 𝑥2 = − 8y
1. Vertex: ______________________
2. Axis of Symmetry: ________________________
3. Focus: __________________________
4. Focal distance (a): __________________
5. Endpoints of the Latus Rectum: _______________________
6. Length of latus rectum: _________________________

ACTIVITY #2:
DIRECTION: Give the corresponding parts of the given graph of a
parabola.

The equation of the parabola is 𝟑𝒚𝟐 + 𝟒𝐱 − 𝟐𝟒𝐲 + 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟎.

1. Vertex: ______________________
2. Axis of Symmetry: ________________________
3. Directrix:__________________________
4. Endpoints of the Latus Rectum: __________________
5. Focus:_______________________

Parabolas whose vertex is at (𝒉, 𝒌)

We use the distance formula to determine the equation of the parabola above.

PQ = PF

√(𝑥 − ℎ + 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑦)2 =√(𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2

√(𝑥 − ℎ + 𝑎)2 =√(𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘 )2
(𝑥 − ℎ + 𝑎)2 = (𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
𝑥2 − 2𝑎ℎ + 2𝑎𝑥 − 2ℎ𝑥 + 𝑎2 = 𝑥2 + 2𝑎ℎ − 2𝑎𝑥 − 2ℎ𝑥 + 𝑎2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 4𝑎ℎ − 4𝑎𝑥 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = −4𝑎ℎ + 4𝑎𝑥
(𝑦 − 𝑘) 2 = 4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)

Equation of a Parabola with Vertex at (𝒉, 𝒌 )

Parabola opens Equation Focus Directrix
Upward (𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4a(𝑦 − 𝑘) (ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑎) y=k−a
Downward (𝑥 − ℎ)2 = −4a(𝑦 − 𝑘) (ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑎) y=k+a
to the right (𝑦 − ℎ)2 = 4a(𝑥 − 𝑘) (ℎ + 𝑎, 𝑘) x=h−a
to the left (𝑦 − ℎ)2 = −4a(𝑥 − 𝑘) (ℎ − 𝑎, 𝑘) x=h+a

Example 3.: Determine the vertex, focus, focal distance (𝑎), length of latus rectum, endpoints
of the latus rectum and axis of symmetry of the parabola (𝑦 − 1)2 = 8(𝑥 − 4). Graph the
parabola.
SOLUTION
From the equation (𝑦 − 1)2 = 8(𝑥 − 4),
• vertex is at (4, 1),
• focal distance is 2 units
• focus is (6, 1).
• Length of the latus rectum is 8 units
• Endpoints are A(6, 5)and B(6, −3).
• The axis of symmetry is given by the linear
equation y = 1 and the parabola opens to the
right. We use the coordinates of the vertex,
endpoints and length of the latus rectum to graph
the parabola.

Example 4. Determine the vertex, focal distance (𝑎),

focus, length of latus rectum, endpoints of the latus
rectum and axis of symmetry of the parabola
(𝑦 − 3)2 = −12(𝑥 + 4). Graph the parabola.

SOLUTION
From the equation (𝑦 − 3)2 = 12(𝑥 + 4),
• vertex is at (-4, 3),
• focal distance is 3 units
• focus is (-7, 3).
• Length of the latus rectum is 12 units
• Endpoints are A(−4, 9)andB(−4, −3).
• The axis of symmetry is given by the linear
equation y = 3 and the parabola opens to the
right. We use the coordinates of the vertex,
endpoints and length of the latus rectum to
graph the parabola.
The graph of the parabola (𝑦 − 3)2 = −12(𝑥 + 4) is given
below.

Example 5. Write an equation of the parabola with vertical

axis of symmetry, vertex at the point (5,1), and passing
through the point (1,3).
• Since the axis of symmetry is vertical and the vertex is (5, 1), then the equation of the
parabola is of the form (𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4a(𝑦 − 𝑘) becomes (𝑥 − 5)2 = 4a(𝑦 − 1).
• Using the point (1, 3) to compute for the value of a, we have (1 − 5)2 = 4a(3 − 1),(−4)2
= 4a(2), a = 2. Therefore, the equation of the is (𝑥 − 5)2 = 8 (𝑦 − 1) .

ACTIVITY #3:
DIRECTION: State the direction in which the parabola opens.
1. x − 5 = (𝑦 − 3)2 _____________________________
2. x − 7 = −(𝑦 − 5)2 _____________________________
 3. y + 3 = −2(𝑥 + 2)2 _____________________________
4. x + 1 = (𝑦 − 4)2 _____________________________
5. −𝑥2 + 2x + y − 5 = 0 _____________________________
6. 2𝑥2 + 3x + y + 1 = 0 _____________________________
7. 𝑦 2 − 3y − x − 10 = 0 _____________________________
8. x = −𝑦2 + 3y + 2 _____________________________

ACTIVITY #4:
DIRECTION: Determine the vertex, focus, and the length and endpoints of the latus
rectum. State the equation of the axis of symmetry and the directrix of the parabola.
9. 𝑦2 = 8(𝑥 − 5)
10. (𝑥 + 4)2 = 4(y − 2)
11. (𝑦 − 7)2 = −12x
12. (𝑦 + 1)2 = x − 4
13. 𝑦2 + x − 10y + 17 = 0
14. −𝑥2 − 6x + y – 4 = 0
15.−𝑥2 + 10x − 4y + 7 = 0

REFLECTION: Are the parabolic arcs formed in shooting the ball are dependent on the
distance of a person throwing the ball? Or are they related? Explain
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REFERENCES FOR LEARNERS:

Lee, Q. N. Topics in Pre-Calculus. Bookmark, Inc., 1992

Licuanan, P. B. et al. General mathematics. Commission on Higher Education, 2016
Links:
1. shorturl.at/eikV1
2. shorturl.at/cfRT5
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJf9shWlMz0
4. shorturl.at/HKSU6

Prepared by:

EVANGELINE M. FECHALIN, LPT

SHS T-II