Precalculus : Graph a Hyperbola

Example Questions

Example Question #1512 : Pre Calculus

What is the equation of the conic section graphed below

Explanation:

The hyperbola pictured is centered at , meaning that the equation has a horizontal shift. The equation must have rather than just x. The hyperbola opens up and down, so the equation must be the y term minus the x term. The hyperbola is drawn according to the box going up/down 5 and left/right 2, so the y term must be or , and the x term must be  or .

Example Question #1513 : Pre Calculus

How can this graph be changed to be the graph of

?

The graph should have -intercepts and not -intercepts.

The graph should be an ellipse and not a hyperbola.

The -intercepts should be at the points and .

The -intercepts should be at the points and .

The center box should extend up to  and down to , stretching the graph.

The -intercepts should be at the points and .

Explanation:

This equation should be thought of as .

This means that the hyperbola will be determined by a box with x-intercepts at and y-intercepts at .

The hyperbola was incorrectly drawn with the intercepts at instead.

Example Question #1 : Graph A Hyperbola

Which of the following would NOT be true of the graph for ?

The graph never intersects with the -axis.

All of these statements are true.

The graph opens up and down.

The graph never intersects with the -axis.

The graph is centered at .

The graph never intersects with the -axis.

Explanation:

The graph should look like this:

Example Question #4 : Hyperbolas

Which of these equations produce this graph, rotated 90 degrees?

Explanation:

Rotated 90 degrees, this graph would be opening up and down instead of left and right, so the equation will have the y term minus the x term.

The box that the hyperbola is drawn around will also rotate. It will now be up/down 2 and left/right 3.

This makes the correct equation

.