Applied Mathematics · Ch 12 — Coordinate Geometry
Parabola
12.7
Parabola
A parabola is the set of all points that are equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and a fixed straight line (the directrix). This simple distance condition gives the curve its distinctive symmetric shape — the same shape you see in the path of a thrown ball, the cross-section of a satellite dish, or the graph of . Understanding this definition first makes every form …
Figure 12.3The parabola y squared = 4ax with vertex at the origin, focus F(a, 0) and directrix the line x = -a
Drawn by us to help you understand the concept clearly, and verified to make sure it's accurate. For exams, practice from your NCERT textbook's own diagram.
y² = 4ax: vertex at the origin, focus at F(a, 0), direct …