<< 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

what is biology
Hajah Reply
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments
AI-Robot
what is biology
Victoria Reply
HOW CAN MAN ORGAN FUNCTION
Alfred Reply
the diagram of the digestive system
Assiatu Reply
allimentary cannel
Ogenrwot
How does twins formed
William Reply
They formed in two ways first when one sperm and one egg are splited by mitosis or two sperm and two eggs join together
Oluwatobi
what is genetics
Josephine Reply
Genetics is the study of heredity
Misack
how does twins formed?
Misack
What is manual
Hassan Reply
discuss biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles
Joseph Reply
what is biology
Yousuf Reply
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environment.
Wine
discuss the biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles in an essay form
Joseph Reply
what is the blood cells
Shaker Reply
list any five characteristics of the blood cells
Shaker
lack electricity and its more savely than electronic microscope because its naturally by using of light
Abdullahi Reply
advantage of electronic microscope is easily and clearly while disadvantage is dangerous because its electronic. advantage of light microscope is savely and naturally by sun while disadvantage is not easily,means its not sharp and not clear
Abdullahi
cell theory state that every organisms composed of one or more cell,cell is the basic unit of life
Abdullahi
is like gone fail us
DENG
cells is the basic structure and functions of all living things
Ramadan
What is classification
ISCONT Reply
is organisms that are similar into groups called tara
Yamosa
in what situation (s) would be the use of a scanning electron microscope be ideal and why?
Kenna Reply
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is ideal for situations requiring high-resolution imaging of surfaces. It is commonly used in materials science, biology, and geology to examine the topography and composition of samples at a nanoscale level. SEM is particularly useful for studying fine details,
Hilary
cell is the building block of life.
Condoleezza Reply
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