Parametrics

Summary

Parametric equation of curves

o Eliminate the parameter
Chords of a parabola
o Parametric equation
Find the gradient
Use the point-gradient form
o Focal chord
Sub the coordinates of the focus into the equation of the
chord.
Tangents and normals
o Parametric approach
Differentiate to find the gradient
Use the point-gradient form to find the equation
o Cartesian approach
Differentiate to find the gradient
Use the point-gradient form to find the equation
Chord of contact (no proof necessary)

Parametric equations
It is a common practice in mathematics to express two related variables, say

and

y , in terms of a third variable, say

or

, so that

x=f ( t ) , y =g(t)
x=f ( ) , y=g()

These equations are called parametric equations and

or

is called the

parameter.
Example 1
Find the Cartesian equation of the curve whose parametric equations are

x=1+t , y=t 2
Rearranging the first equation, we get
that

t=x1 , and since

y=t

, it follows

y=( x1 )2 .

Example 2
Find the Cartesian equation of the curve whose parametric equations are

x=sin , y=cos 2
y=cos 2

y=12sin 2

y=12 x 2

Exercises
Find the Cartesian equation of the curves whose parametric equations are:
1.
2.

x=2 t , y=t +2
x=t , y=

1
t

3.

x=t+ 3, y =t 25

4.

x=2 cos , y=2 sin ,0 2

Parametric equation of the Parabola

The parabola

x 2=4 ay

can be represented by the

parametric equations:

x=2 at y=at
The point

(2 at , a t 2)

is a variable point of the parabola

depending on the value of

t .

Chords of a parabola

Suppose that
parabola

P(2 ap , a p )

and

Q(2 aq , a q )

are two distinct points on the

x 2=4 ay .

Gradient of chord:

m=

Equation of chord:

y 2 y 1
x 2x 1

ap 2aq 2
2 ap2 aq

a ( pq )( p+q )
2 a ( pq )

1
( p+q)
2

y y 1=m(x x1 )

1
ya p2 = ( p+ q ) ( x2 ap )
2

1
ya p2 = ( p+ a ) x a p 2apq
2

1
2
a p + y= ( p+q ) xapq
2
p and

(Note that if parameters

are exchanged, formulae for the gradient

and the equation remain the same.This is because the chord

line as the chord

PQ

is the same

QP .)

Focal chord
A focal chord is a chord that passes through the focus of a parabola. Substituting

(0, a)

a=0apq

into the equation of the chord above,

PQ

is a focal chord if and only if

pq=1

pq=1 .

Tangents and normals

Suppose

P ( 2 ap , a p2 )

dy dy /dp
=
dx dx/dp

dy 2 ap
=
dx 2 a

is a point on the parabola with equation

x =4 ay

dy
=p
dx
P(2 ap , a p 2)

The gradient of the tangent at

is

p .

Parametric equation of the tangent

y y 1=m ( xx 1 )

ya p2 =p ( x2 ap )

The tangent at

ya p2 =px2a p2

P(2 ap , a p 2)

Tangents from an external point

a) Differentiating,

is

y= pxa p2

y= pxa p2

dy 6 p
= = p Equation of tangent:
dx 6
y3 p2= p ( x6 p )
b) Substutiting

y= px3 p2

A (2,1) ,

1=2 p3 p 2

3 p 22 p1=0

( 3 p+ 1 )( p1 )=0

p=1p=

1
( 6,3 )(2, )
3

Points of contact are

The corresponding tangents are

y=x3

y=

( )

1
1
x3
3
3

y=

1
(x +1)
3

Intersection of two tangents

(Solving simultaneous equations)

Thus, the tangents at

and

meet at

(a ( p+q ) , apq) .

Parametric equation of the normal

Gradient of normal

1
p

Equation of normal:

ya p2 =

1
( x2 ap )
p

pya p3=x+ 2 ap

x+ py=2ap +a p3

1
3

Cartesian equation of the tangent

Suppose

P ( x1 , y 1)

is any point on the parabola

Answers to exercises
1.
2.

2 y=x+ 4

y=

1
x

3.

y=x 26 x +4

4.

x 2+ y 2 =4

x =4 ay