Conics and Polar Coordinates University of Utah（圆锥曲线论和极坐标犹他大学）.pdf

CHAPTER 11 Conics and Polar Coordinates x 11.1. Quadratic Relations We will see that a curve defined by a quadratic relation between the variables x ; y is one of these three curves: a) parabola, b) ellipse, c) hyperbola. There are other possibilities, considered degenerate. For example the graph of the equation x2 + y 2 = a we know to be a circle, if a 0. But if a = 0, the graph is just the point (0; 0) , and if a 0, there is no graph. Similarly the equation x2 y 2 = a describes a hyperbola if a =6 0, but if a = 0, we get the two lines x = y . First we list the standard forms of the basic curves. These are standard in the sense that any other curve given by a quadratic equation is obtained from one of these by moving the curve in the plane by translating and/or rotating. The Parabola. The standard form is one of these: 2 2 (11.1) y = ax ; x = ay The sign of a determines the orientation of the parabola. We have these four possibilities: 2 2 2 2 y = ax ; a 0 y = ax ; a 0 x = ay ; a 0 x = ay ; a 0 Figure 11.1 Figure 11.2 Figure 11.3 Figure 11.4 Figure 11.1 Figure 11.2 y y a 1 1 x x a 157 Chapter 11 Conics and Polar Coordinates