Fix the mistake: Conic Sections (Parabolas, Ellipses, and Hyperbolas)

Conic Sections ① Parabola

Parabola: The locus of points equidistant from a fixed point F (the focus) and a fixed line l (the directrix).

Standard form y² = 4px (p>0):
 ・Focus F(p, 0) ・Directrix x = −p

Example ① Find the focus and directrix of y² = 8x.
Solution:4p = 8 → p = 2。Focus (2,0), directrix x = −2
Key Point
  • When the axis is the y-axis: x² = 4py, focus (0,p), directrix y = −p

Practice Problems

  1. Find the focus and directrix of x² = 12y.

Answers and Explanations

  1. Answer:Focus (0, 3), directrix y = −3