Finding Focus Of Parabola - Cuemath

Focus of Parabola

Focus of parabola lies on the axis of the parabola. The focus of parabola is helpful in defining the parabola. A parabola represents the locus of a point that is equidistant from a fixed point called the focus, and the fixed-line called the directrix. The coordinates of the focus of the parabola depends on the equation of parabola and the axis of the parabola.

Let us learn more about the focus of parabola, and how to find the focus of parabola.

1.	What Is Focus of Parabola?
2.	How to Locate Focus of Parabola?
3.	Uses of Focus of Parabola
4.	Examples on Focus of Parabola
5.	Practice Questions
6.	FAQs on Focus of Parabola

What Is Focus of Parabola?

The focus of a parabola lies on the axis the parabola. The focus of the parabola helps in defining the parabola. A parabola represents the locus of a point which is equidistant from a fixed point called the focus and the fixed line called the directrix. The focus and the directrix are equidistant from the vertex of the parabola. Here we define the focus for the standard equations of a parabola.

• The focus of the parabola y2 = 4ax, and having x-axis as its axis is F (a, 0).
• The focus of the parabola y2 = -4ax, and having x-axis as its axis is F (-a, 0).
• The focus of the parabola x2 = 4ay, and having y-axis as its axis is F(0, a).
• The focus of the parabola x2 = -4ay and having y-axis as its axis is F(0, -a).

How to Locate Focus of Parabola?

The focus of a parabola lies on the axis of the parabola. The focus of a parabola lies at a distance of 'a' units from the vertex of the parabola. The vertex and the focus lies on the axes of the parabola and the axes can be calculated based on the equation of the parabola.

The parabola having an equation with a second degree in x has the y-axis or a line parallel to the y-axis as its axis, and the parabola having an equation with second degree in y had the x-axis or a line parallel to the x-axis as its axis.

Equation of a Parabola	Axis of the Parabola	Vertex of the Parabola	Focus of the Parabola
(x - h)2 = 4a(y - k)	x = h	(h, k)	(h, k + a)
(y - k)2 = 4(x - h)	y = k	(h, k)	(h + a, k)

Uses of Focus of Parabola

The focus is used to find the numerous features of the parabola.

• The focus helps to write the equation of a parabola.
• The focus of a parabola helps to locate the axis of the parabola.
• The focus of the parabola is useful to find the equations of the focal chords.
• The focus of the parabola is useful to find the length of the latus rectum and the endpoints of the latus rectum.