Rotation of 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 ...
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. See [link].
The nondegenerate conic sectionsEllipses, circles, hyperbolas, and parabolas are sometimes called the nondegenerate conic sections, in contrast to the degenerate conic sections, which are shown in [link]. 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.
Degenerate conic sectionsIn 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.
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 | 4 x 2 +9 y 2 =1 |
circle | 4 x 2 +4 y 2 =1 |
hyperbola | 4 x 2 −9 y 2 =1 |
parabola | 4 x 2 =9y or 4 y 2 =9x |
one line | 4x+9y=1 |
intersecting lines | ( x−4 )( y+4 )=0 |
parallel lines | ( x−4 )( x−9 )=0 |
a point | 4 x 2 +4 y 2 =0 |
no graph | 4 x 2 +4 y 2 = − 1 |
A nondegenerate conic section has the general form
where A,B, and C are not all zero.
[link] 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 | A x 2 +C y 2 +Dx+Ey+F=0, A≠C and AC>0 |
circle | A x 2 +C y 2 +Dx+Ey+F=0, A=C |
hyperbola | A x 2 −C y 2 +Dx+Ey+F=0 or −A x 2 +C y 2 +Dx+Ey+F=0, where A and C are positive |
parabola | A x 2 +Dx+Ey+F=0 or C y 2 +Dx+Ey+F=0 |
Given the equation of a conic, identify the type of conic.
- Rewrite the equation in the general form, A x 2 +Bxy+C y 2 +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.
Identify the graph of each of the following nondegenerate conic sections.
- 4 x 2 −9 y 2 +36x+36y−125=0
- 9 y 2 +16x+36y−10=0
- 3 x 2 +3 y 2 −2x−6y−4=0
- −25 x 2 −4 y 2 +100x+16y+20=0
- 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.
Identify the graph of each of the following nondegenerate conic sections.
- 16 y 2 − x 2 +x−4y−9=0
- 16 x 2 +4 y 2 +16x+49y−81=0
- hyperbola
- ellipse
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. See [link].
The graph of the rotated ellipse x 2 + y 2 –xy–15=0We will find the relationships between x and y on the Cartesian plane with x ′ and y ′ on the new rotated plane. See [link].
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. See [link]. We may write the new unit vectors in terms of the original ones.
Consider a vector u in the new coordinate plane. It may be represented in terms of its coordinate axes.
Because u= x ′ i ′ + y ′ j ′ , we have representations of x and y in terms of the new coordinate system.
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 ′ ):
and
Given the equation of a conic, find a new representation after rotating through an angle.
- Find x and y where x= x ′ cos θ− y ′ sin θ and y= x ′ sin θ+ y ′ cos θ.
- Substitute the expression for x and y into in the given equation, then simplify.
- Write the equations with x ′ and y ′ in standard form.
Find a new representation of the equation 2 x 2 −xy+2 y 2 −30=0 after rotating through an angle of θ=45°.
Find x and y, where x= x ′ cos θ− y ′ sin θ and y= x ′ sin θ+ y ′ cos θ.
Because θ=45°,
and
Substitute x= x ′ cosθ− y ′ sinθ and y= x ′ sin θ+ y ′ cos θ into 2 x 2 −xy+2 y 2 −30=0.
Simplify.
Write the equations with x ′ and y ′ in the standard form.
This equation is an ellipse. [link] shows the graph.
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 A x 2 +Bxy+C y 2 +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
We have learned already that any conic may be represented by the second degree equation
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 )= A−C B .
- 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°.
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 sin θ and cos θ.
- Substitute sin θ and cos θ into x= x ′ cos θ− y ′ sin θ and y= x ′ sin θ+ y ′ cos θ.
- 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.
Rewrite the equation 8 x 2 −12xy+17 y 2 =20 in the x ′ y ′ system without an x ′ y ′ term.
First, we find cot(2θ). See [link].
So the hypotenuse is
Next, we find sin θ and cos θ.
Substitute the values of sin θ and cos θ into x= x ′ cos θ− y ′ sin θ and y= x ′ sin θ+ y ′ cos θ.
and
Substitute the expressions 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 new coordinate system.
[link] shows the graph of the ellipse.
Rewrite the 13 x 2 −6 3 xy+7 y 2 =16 in the x ′ y ′ system without the x ′ y ′ term.
x ′ 2 4 + y ′ 2 1 =1
Graph the following equation relative to the x ′ y ′ system:
First, we find cot( 2θ ).
Because cot( 2θ )= 5 12 , we can draw a reference triangle as in [link].
Thus, the hypotenuse is
Next, we find sin θ and cos θ. We will use half-angle identities.
Now we find x and y.
and
Now we substitute x= 3 x ′ −2 y ′ 13 and y= 2 x ′ +3 y ′ 13 into x 2 +12xy−4 y 2 =30.
[link] shows the graph of the hyperbola x ′ 2 6 −
- 1 Introduction to Unemployment
- 2 Hypergeometric Distribution
- 3 Comparison of the Chi-Square Tests
- 4 The Production Possibilities Frontier and Social Choices
- 5 Rare Events, the Sample, Decision and Conclusion
- 6 Indifference Curves
- 7 Consumption Choices
- 8 Two Population Means with Known Standard Deviations
- 9 How Monopolies Form: Barriers to Entry
- 10 Discrete Distribution (Lucky Dice Experiment)