<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

A design for a cooling tower project is shown in [link] . Find the equation of the hyperbola that models the sides of the cooling tower. Assume that the center of the hyperbola—indicated by the intersection of dashed perpendicular lines in the figure—is the origin of the coordinate plane. Round final values to four decimal places.

The sides of the tower can be modeled by the hyperbolic equation. x 2 400 y 2 3600 = 1 or  x 2 20 2 y 2 60 2 = 1.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Key equations

Hyperbola, center at origin, transverse axis on x -axis x 2 a 2 y 2 b 2 = 1
Hyperbola, center at origin, transverse axis on y -axis y 2 a 2 x 2 b 2 = 1
Hyperbola, center at ( h , k ) , transverse axis parallel to x -axis ( x h ) 2 a 2 ( y k ) 2 b 2 = 1
Hyperbola, center at ( h , k ) , transverse axis parallel to y -axis ( y k ) 2 a 2 ( x h ) 2 b 2 = 1

Key concepts

  • A hyperbola is the set of all points ( x , y ) in a plane such that the difference of the distances between ( x , y ) and the foci is a positive constant.
  • The standard form of a hyperbola can be used to locate its vertices and foci. See [link] .
  • When given the coordinates of the foci and vertices of a hyperbola, we can write the equation of the hyperbola in standard form. See [link] and [link] .
  • When given an equation for a hyperbola, we can identify its vertices, co-vertices, foci, asymptotes, and lengths and positions of the transverse and conjugate axes in order to graph the hyperbola. See [link] and [link] .
  • Real-world situations can be modeled using the standard equations of hyperbolas. For instance, given the dimensions of a natural draft cooling tower, we can find a hyperbolic equation that models its sides. See [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

Define a hyperbola in terms of its foci.

A hyperbola is the set of points in a plane the difference of whose distances from two fixed points (foci) is a positive constant.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What can we conclude about a hyperbola if its asymptotes intersect at the origin?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What must be true of the foci of a hyperbola?

The foci must lie on the transverse axis and be in the interior of the hyperbola.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If the transverse axis of a hyperbola is vertical, what do we know about the graph?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Where must the center of hyperbola be relative to its foci?

The center must be the midpoint of the line segment joining the foci.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Algebraic

For the following exercises, determine whether the following equations represent hyperbolas. If so, write in standard form.

x 2 36 y 2 9 = 1

yes x 2 6 2 y 2 3 2 = 1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

25 x 2 16 y 2 = 400

yes x 2 4 2 y 2 5 2 = 1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

9 x 2 + 18 x + y 2 + 4 y 14 = 0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following exercises, write the equation for the hyperbola in standard form if it is not already, and identify the vertices and foci, and write equations of asymptotes.

x 2 25 y 2 36 = 1

x 2 5 2 y 2 6 2 = 1 ; vertices: ( 5 , 0 ) , ( 5 , 0 ) ; foci: ( 61 , 0 ) , ( 61 , 0 ) ; asymptotes: y = 6 5 x , y = 6 5 x

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y 2 4 x 2 81 = 1

y 2 2 2 x 2 9 2 = 1 ; vertices: ( 0 , 2 ) , ( 0 , 2 ) ; foci: ( 0 , 85 ) , ( 0 , 85 ) ; asymptotes: y = 2 9 x , y = 2 9 x

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( x 1 ) 2 9 ( y 2 ) 2 16 = 1

( x 1 ) 2 3 2 ( y 2 ) 2 4 2 = 1 ; vertices: ( 4 , 2 ) , ( 2 , 2 ) ; foci: ( 6 , 2 ) , ( 4 , 2 ) ; asymptotes: y = 4 3 ( x 1 ) + 2 , y = 4 3 ( x 1 ) + 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

how does the planets on our solar system orbit
cheten Reply
how many Messier objects are there in space
satish Reply
did you g8ve certificate
Richard Reply
what are astronomy
Issan Reply
Astronomy (from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία (astronomía) 'science that studies the laws of the stars') is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution.
Rafael
vjuvu
Elgoog
what is big bang theory?
Rosemary
what type of activity astronomer do?
Rosemary
No
Richard
the big bang theory is a theory which states that all matter was compressed together in one place the matter got so unstable it exploded releasing All its contents in the form of hydrogen
Roaul
I want to be an astronomer. That's my dream
Astrit
Who named the the whole galaxy?
Shola Reply
solar Univers
GPOWER
what is space
Richard
what is the dark matter
Richard
what are the factors upon which the atmosphere is stratified
Nicholas Reply
is the big bang the sun
Folakemi Reply
no
Sokak
bigbang is the beginning of the universe
Sokak
but thats just a theory
Sokak
nothing will happen, don't worry brother.
Vansh
what does comet means
GANGAIN Reply
these are Rocky substances between mars and jupiter
GANGAIN
Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases , rock and dust that orbit the sun. They are mostly found between the orbits of Venus and Mercury.
Aarya
hllo
John
hi
John
qt rrt
John
r u there
John
hey can anyone guide me abt international astronomy olympiad
sahil
how can we learn right and true ?
Govinda Reply
why the moon is always appear in an elliptical shape
Gatjuol Reply
Because when astroid hit the Earth then a piece of elliptical shape of the earth was separated which is now called moon.
Hemen
what's see level?
lidiya Reply
Did you mean eye sight or sea level
Minal
oh sorry it's sea level
lidiya
according to the theory of astronomers why the moon is always appear in an elliptical orbit?
Gatjuol
hi !!! I am new in astronomy.... I have so many questions in mind .... all of scientists of the word they just give opinion only. but they never think true or false ... i respect all of them... I believes whole universe depending on true ...থিউরি
Govinda
hello
Jackson
hi
Elyana
we're all stars and galaxies a part of sun. how can science prove thx with respect old ancient times picture or books..or anything with respect to present time .but we r a part of that universe
w astronomy and cosmology!
Michele
another theory of universe except big ban
Albash Reply
how was universe born
Asmit Reply
there many theory to born universe but what is the reality of big bang theory to born universe
Asmit
what is the exact value of π?
Nagalakshmi
by big bang
universal
there are many theories regarding this it's on you believe any theory that you think is true ex. eternal inflation theory, oscillation model theory, multiple universe theory the big bang theory etc.
Aarya
I think after Big Bang!
Michele
from where on earth could u observe all the stars during the during the course of an year
Karuna Reply
I think it couldn't possible on earth
Nagalakshmi
in this time i don't Know
Michele
is that so. the question was in the end of this chapter
Karuna
in theory, you could see them all from the equator (though over the course of a year, not at pne time). stars are measured in "declination", which is how far N or S of the equator (90* to -90*). Polaris is the North star, and is ALMOST 90* (+89*). So it would just barely creep over the horizon.
Christopher
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 4

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Precalculus' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask