SHS

PRE- CALCULUS
Quarter 1 – Week 5
Module 6: Equations and the
Characteristics of the Types of Conic
Sections
Pre-Calculus – SHS
Quarter 1 – Module 6: Equations and the Characteristics of the Basic Conic
Sections

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: LEO J. HUBILLA
Editors: NENITA D. BAGADIONG, JOAN E. HAPA,
DIANE E. MONTEREY, ROLAN G. NEDIA, GRACE E. PURA
Reviewers: MA. JECCA LATOZA – AZAS, JERRY G. FIRMANES, QA and Validation
Team
Illustrator: LEO J. HUBILLA
Layout Artist: CHAD LOWE V. VILLARROYA, ANTONIO L. MORADA
 QUARTER 1
MODULE 6

I. Title of Material/Introduction:

Equations and the Characteristics of Basic Conic Sections

After having learned the properties and standard forms of equations of

the basic conics (circle, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola), we assume that
conics are familiar figure to you.
In this module, you will learn conics in a more abstract yet easier way.
Aside from the concepts you’ve learned about conics in the previous modules,
the general forms of equation and other characteristics will be given to help you
recognize each type of conics with ease.
The lessons are presented in a very simple way so it will be easy for you
to understand and be able to solve exercises/problems independently.

II. Competency/Objective:

After going through this module, you should be able to recognize the
equations and the important characteristics of the different types of conic sections
(STEM _PC11AG-Ie-1).

Specifically, you are expected to:

1. identify the general forms of equation of conics;
2. determine the type of conics given its general form of equation;

III. Vocabulary List:

Conic section: Any curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a cone of
two nappes.
.
Circle: A two-dimensional geometric figure, consisting of the set of all those
points in a plane that are equally distant from another point.

Parabola: The conic section formed by the plane being parallel to the cone.

Ellipse: A conic section that is described as the set of all points in a

plane, the sum of whose distances from two fixed points, called foci, is
constant; thus, for all is constant.

Hyperbola: The intersection of a right circular double cone with a plane at an

angle greater than the slope of the cone.

Degenerate conic: A conic that does not have the usual properties of a conic.
When the plane intersects the vertex of the cone, the resulting conic is
called a degenerate conic. Degenerate conics include a point, a line,
and two intersecting lines.

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IV. Pre-Test:
Identify which type of conic sections is represented by each equation
below.
1.

V. Learning Activities:
Learning Situation No.1: Looking Back!

Let’s see if you can still remember the different topics we discussed from modules 1 to 5.

The CONIC SECTIONS

Conic Sections are curves formed by the intersections of a double-napped

right circular cone and a plane, where the plane does not pass through the vertex of
the cone. The conic sections are classified into two types: Non degenerate and
degenerate conics. Observe the figures below.

Non - Degenerate Conics

The-Conic-Sections-for-Senior-High-School-Students
https://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/detail/13100

Degenerate Conics

The-Conic-Sections-for-Senior-High-School-Students
https://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/detail/13100

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 Standard Forms of Equation of Conics

Conics Center Standard Form of Equation

Circle
(upward)
(downward)
(to the right)
(to the left)
Parabola
(upward)
(downward)
(to the right)
(to the left)
, (horizontal)
, (vertical)

Ellipse
, (horizontal)

, (vertical)

, (horizontal transverse axis)

(vertical transverse axis)

Hyperbola , horizontal
transverse axis

, vertical transverse
axis

TRANSFER Your Understanding

It’s time to demonstrate what you have learned. Answer PRACTICE TASK 1
before you proceed to Learning Situation # 2. Compile your answer in your
portfolio.

Do you want to learn more about conics? We shall consider again the
standard forms of equation of conics (circle, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola) and
learn how these standard equations are transformed into their general forms. The
degenerate conics will also be discussed here.
Analyze carefully learning situation 2.

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Learning Situation No. 2
The General Forms of Equation and the Characteristics of the Different Types
of Conics
The general form of equation of conic sections may be given by
where are real numbers
and are not all zero. This indicates that conic sections have general
equations in the second degree.

Now, let’s derive the general forms of equation of .circle, parabola, ellipse, and
hyperbola. A step by step process is shown to you for better understanding.

• Circle
Consider again the standard equation of a circle

Expanding the binomials and rearranging terms, we obtain,

If we let then the equation takes

the form,

or .This is called
the general form of the equation of a circle.

• Parabola
Consider the standard equation of vertical parabolas with center at ,

Expanding the binomial, simplifying the right side, and rearranging terms, we
get,

If we let , then the equation becomes

or This is the general equation
of the parabola that opens upward or downward.

The standard equation of horizontal parabolas with center at ,

Expanding the binomial, simplifying the right side, and rearranging terms, we
get,

If we let , then the equation becomes

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 or . This is called the general
equation of the parabola that opens to the right or to the left.

• Ellipse

Consider the standard equation of a horizontal ellipse with center at

,
Multiplying each term of the equation by its LCD, , we obtain

Rearranging terms, we have

If we let , then
the equation becomes
This is the general equation of the horizontal
ellipse.

The standard equation of a vertical ellipse with center at is

.
Multiplying each term of the equation by its LCD, , we obtain

Rearranging terms, we have

If we let ,
then the equation becomes
This is the general equation of the vertical
ellipse.

• Hyperbola

The standard equation of a hyperbola with center at , with horizontal

transverse axis is
.
Multiplying each term of the equation by its LCD, , we obtain

.
Rearranging terms, we have
.

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 If we let , then
the equation becomes
This is the general equation of the hyperbola
with horizontal transverse axis.

The standard equation of a hyperbola with center at , with vertical

transverse axis is given as
.
Multiplying each term of the equation by its LCD, , we obtain

.
Rearranging terms, we have
.
Multiplying the equation by -1, we obtain
.

If we let ,
then the equation becomes
This is the general equation of the hyperbola
with vertical transverse axis.

Summarizing the general forms of equations of conics in the table as

reference, you can recognize their characteristics based on their general equations
Notice that some terms may vanish, depending on the kind of conic section.

Conics/ Characteristics/Conditions
General Equation
Graphs
General conics

Circle
and
Both appear, and
Degenerate
cases: a point their coefficients are equal
and empty set
Parabola Only appears and
opens upward or
and downward

degenerate Only appears and

case: straight Opens to the right or left
line
Ellipse
and Both appear, and
degenerate their coefficients have
cases: a point the same sign and are equal
and empty set
Hyperbola Both appear, and
and their coefficients have
Degenerate different signs

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 case: two
intersecting
lines

From the table, we can infer that every conic has an equation of the second
degree and thereby recognize the type of conic sections by simply looking at the
coefficients of in the general equation.

Now, look at this real-scenario.

In an outdoor activity during math camp, a group of students needs to solve a given
task. Unfortunately, the paper got wet and the problem there looks like this. Do you
think, it is possible for the group to answer the problem correctly? If you were in the
group, would you be able to answer it?

Write your answer in a piece of paper and compile it in your portfolio.

Let us reinforce your idea about conics by examining and analyzing the following
solved examples.

Without graphing, determine the type of conics each of the following equations
represents.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Solution
1. Since the coefficients of have opposite signs, the conic is a hyperbola or
a pair of intersecting lines. Rewriting the equation to standard form by completing
the square, we have

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 Thus, the graph is a hyperbola.

2. Since and have equal coefficients, the graph is a circle, a point, or the empty
set. Completing the square and rewriting into standard equation, we obtain

Since the right hand side is negative, the graph is the empty set.

3. By inspection, the graph is a parabola. There is only square term that appears in the
equation and
4. Since the coefficients of are not equal but have the same sign, the graph is
an ellipse, a point, or the empty set. Rewriting to standard form by completing the
square, we have

.
The graph is an ellipse.

5. Since the coefficients of are not equal but have the same sign, the graph is
an ellipse, a point, or the empty set. Transforming to standard equation and by
completing the square, we get

Since the right hand side is the graph is a single point (the point is

6. Since the coefficients of , the graph is a circle, a point, or the empty set.
Completing the squares, we obtain

Thus, the graph is a circle.

Note:
• when the right hand side is greater than zero, the graph is a circle.
• when the right hand side is equal to zero, the graph is a point.
• when the right hand side is less than zero, the graph is the empty set.

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7. Since the coefficients of have opposite signs, the graph is a hyperbola, or
a pair of intersecting lines. Rewriting the equation to standard form by completing
the square, we get

Since the right hand side is zero, the graph is a pair of intersecting lines; these are

8. Since contains only one square term and then the

graph is a parabola.

TRANSFER Your Understanding

It’s time to demonstrate what you have learned. Answer PRACTICE TASK 2.
Compile your answer in your portfolio.

Learning Situation No. 3

A Note on Identifying a Conic Section by Its

General Equation
Under certain conditions, the general equation
has no graph or it represents a
point or one or two lines, which are known as degenerate conics.
Degenerate ellipse or circle may be a single point, or an empty set. A
degenerate parabola may be a single line. A degenerate hyperbola may
be two intersecting lines.
It is only after transforming a given equation to standard form that we
can identify its graph either as one of the degenerate conic sections (a
point, two intersecting lines, or the empty set) or as one of the non –
degenerate conic sections (circle, parabola, ellipse, or hyperbola).

The following examples will show the possible degenerate conics (a point, two
intersecting lines, or the empty set) given the general equations.

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 1. 4x2 + 9y2 – 16x + 18y + 25 = 0
one point: (2, -1)

2. 4x2 + 9y2 – 16x + 18y + 61 = 0

empty set

3. 4x2 - 9y2 – 16x - 18y + 7 = 0

two lines: y + 1 =

TRANSFER Your Understanding

It’s time to demonstrate what you have learned. Answer Practice Task 3.
Good luck!

V. Practice Exercises

Practice Task 1

A. Identify which type of conic sections is represented by each equation below.

Practice Task 2

Determine the type of conic sections represented by each equation below.

1. 49x2 + 4y2 – 196 = 0 6. 5x2 + 5y2 – 80 = 0

2. y + 5x2 = 0 7. y2 – 4x = 0
3. 9x2 + 100y2 – 900 = 0 8. 25x2 + 15y2 – 375 = 0
4. 8x2 + 8y2 – 192 = 0 9. 36y2 – 4x2 – 9 = 0
5. 36x2 – 9y2 – 324 = 0 10. 4x2 + 4y2 – 52 = 0

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 Practice Task 3

Classify each equation as circle, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola or degenerate

case.
1. x2 + y2 – 2x – 6y + 6 = 0 4. x2 + 4y2 – 2x – 24y + 33 = 0
2. 9x2 + 4y2 + 36x – 24y + 72 = 0 5. 2x2 – 4x – y + 3 = 0
3. x2 – 4y2 – 2x + 24y – 35 = 0
VI. Post Test:

Determine whether each equation is circle, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola or

degenerate case.

1.

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

VII. Assignment

A. Determine the type of conics represented by each of the following equations.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

B. Based on the past lessons on types of conic sections, reflect on the

following questions. Write your answer on a sheet of paper.

1) What am I already good at?

2) What do I still need help with?

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References:
Department of Education (Bureau of Learning Resources) Pre – Calculus
Learner’s Material. Lexicon Press Inc., Philippines, 2016
Department of Education (Bureau of Learning Resources) Pre - Calculus
Teacher’s Guide. Lexicon Press Inc., Philippines, 2016
Feliciano and Uy. Modern Analytic Geometry. Merriam & Webster Bookstore,
Inc.,1994

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ANSWER KEY:
Pre-Test
1.Circle 4. Degenerate conic – empty set
2.Hyperbola 5. Degenerate conic – two intersecting lines
3. Ellipse

Practice Task 1
1.Parabola 5. Circle
2. Circle 6. Ellipse
3. Hyperbola 7. Parabola
4. Ellipse 8. Hyperbola

Practice Task 2
1.Ellipse 6. Circle
2.Parabola 7. Parabola
3.Ellipse 8. Ellipse
4.Circle 9. Hyperbola
5.Hyperbola 10. Circle

Practice Task 3
1. Circle 4.Ellipse
2. Degenerate conic – one point 5. Parabola
3. Degenerate conic – two intersecting lines

Post Test

1.Parabola
2.Ellipse
3. Circle
4. Hyperbola
5. Degenerate conic – empty set
6. Circle
7. Degenerate conic – two intersecting lines

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