Frequently Asked Questions about Hyperbolas

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 72 views

Introduction

A hyperbola is a type of conic section that is defined as the set of all points such that the absolute value of the difference between the distances from two fixed points (called foci) is constant. In this article, we will focus on finding the center and vertices of a hyperbola given by the equation $9y^2 - 25x^2 - 100x - 108y - 1 = 0$ . We will use algebraic methods to rewrite the equation in standard form and then identify the center and vertices.

Step 1: Rewrite the Equation in Standard Form

To rewrite the equation in standard form, we need to complete the square for both the x and y terms. We start by grouping the x and y terms together:

9y^2 - 25x^2 - 100x - 108y - 1 = 0

\Rightarrow 9(y^2 + \frac{12}{9}y) - 25(x^2 + \frac{100}{25}x) = 1

\Rightarrow 9(y^2 + \frac{12}{9}y + \frac{36}{81}) - 25(x^2 + \frac{100}{25}x + \frac{100}{25}) = 1 + 9(\frac{36}{81}) - 25(\frac{100}{25})

\Rightarrow 9(y + \frac{6}{9})^2 - 25(x + \frac{10}{25})^2 = 1 + \frac{36}{9} - 100

\Rightarrow 9(y + \frac{2}{3})^2 - 25(x + \frac{2}{5})^2 = -\frac{91}{9}

Now we can rewrite the equation in standard form:

\frac{(y + \frac{2}{3})^2}{\frac{1}{9}} - \frac{(x + \frac{2}{5})^2}{\frac{1}{25}} = 1

Step 2: Identify the Center and Vertices

The standard form of a hyperbola is:

\frac{(y - k)^2}{a^2} - \frac{(x - h)^2}{b^2} = 1

where (h, k) is the center of the hyperbola and a and b are the distances from the center to the vertices.

Comparing the equation we obtained in Step 1 to the standard form, we can see that:

h = -2/5
k = -2/3
a^2 = 1/9
b^2 = 1/25

Therefore, the center of the hyperbola is (-2/5, -2/3) and the vertices are:

(-2/5 + a, -2/3) = (-2/5 + 1/3, -2/3) = (-1/15, -2/3)
(-2/5 - a, -2/3) = (-2/5 - 1/3, -2/3) = (-7/15, -2/3)

Conclusion

In this article, we found the center and vertices of a hyperbola given by the equation $9y^2 - 25x^2 - 100x - 108y - 1 = 0$ . We used algebraic methods to rewrite the equation in standard form and then identified the center and vertices. The center of the hyperbola is (-2/5, -2/3) and the vertices are (-1/15, -2/3) and (-7/15, -2/3).

Key Takeaways

To find the center and vertices of a hyperbola, we need to rewrite the equation in standard form.
The standard form of a hyperbola is $\frac{(y - k)^2}{a^2} - \frac{(x - h)^2}{b^2} = 1$ .
The center of the hyperbola is (h, k) and the vertices are (h + a, k) and (h - a, k).

Real-World Applications

Hyperbolas have many real-world applications, including:

Physics: Hyperbolas are used to describe the motion of objects under the influence of a central force, such as gravity.
Engineering: Hyperbolas are used to design curves for roads, bridges, and other structures.
Computer Science: Hyperbolas are used in computer graphics to create realistic images and animations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hyperbolas

Q: What is a hyperbola?

A: A hyperbola is a type of conic section that is defined as the set of all points such that the absolute value of the difference between the distances from two fixed points (called foci) is constant.

Q: What is the standard form of a hyperbola?

A: The standard form of a hyperbola is $\frac{(y - k)^2}{a^2} - \frac{(x - h)^2}{b^2} = 1$ , where (h, k) is the center of the hyperbola and a and b are the distances from the center to the vertices.

Q: How do I find the center and vertices of a hyperbola?

A: To find the center and vertices of a hyperbola, you need to rewrite the equation in standard form. You can do this by completing the square for both the x and y terms.

Q: What are the foci of a hyperbola?

A: The foci of a hyperbola are the two fixed points that define the hyperbola. They are located at a distance c from the center of the hyperbola, where c is given by $c^2 = a^2 + b^2$ .

Q: What is the equation of a hyperbola in standard form?

A: The equation of a hyperbola in standard form is $\frac{(y - k)^2}{a^2} - \frac{(x - h)^2}{b^2} = 1$ , where (h, k) is the center of the hyperbola and a and b are the distances from the center to the vertices.

Q: How do I graph a hyperbola?

A: To graph a hyperbola, you need to plot the center and vertices of the hyperbola and then draw the asymptotes. The asymptotes are the lines that the hyperbola approaches as it goes to infinity.

Q: What are the applications of hyperbolas?

A: Hyperbolas have many real-world applications, including physics, engineering, and computer science. They are used to describe the motion of objects under the influence of a central force, design curves for roads and bridges, and create realistic images and animations.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when working with hyperbolas?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when working with hyperbolas include:

Not completing the square for both the x and y terms when rewriting the equation in standard form.
Not identifying the center and vertices of the hyperbola correctly.
Not using the correct values for a and b when graphing the hyperbola.

Q: How do I determine the type of conic section (hyperbola, parabola, or ellipse) that a given equation represents?

A: To determine the type of conic section that a given equation represents, you need to look at the coefficients of the x^2 and y^2 terms. If the coefficients have the same sign, the conic section is an ellipse. If the coefficients have opposite signs, the conic section is a hyperbola. If the coefficients are equal, the conic section is a parabola.

Q: What is the relationship between the foci and the vertices of a hyperbola?

A: The foci of a hyperbola are located at a distance c from the center of the hyperbola, where c is given by $c^2 = a^2 + b^2$ . The vertices of the hyperbola are located at a distance a from the center of the hyperbola.