# Algebra II : Graphing Hyperbolic Functions

## Example Questions

### Example Question #101 : Quadratic Functions

In which direction does the graph of the above hyperbola open?

horizontal

vertical

horizontal

Explanation:

To determine which direction a hyperbola opens, first get the equation into standard form for a conic section:

This equation gives us a hyperbola when the coefficient in front of either the x-squared or the y-squared term (but not both!) is negative. In this problem, the coefficient in front of the x-squared term is positive, but the coefficient of the y-squared term is negative. Here are the rules for hyperbola directions:

• If the coefficient of the x-squared term is positive but the coefficient of the y-squared term is negative, this is a hyperbola that opens horizontally.
• If the coefficient of the x-squared term is negative but the coefficient of the y-squared term is positive, this is a hyperbola that opens vertically.

Thus, we have a graph of a horizontal hyperbola.

### Example Question #1 : Graphing Hyperbolic Functions

What are the vertices of this hyperbola?

Explanation:

The first thing we need to find for this hyperbola is the center. This is simply the point where and  both equal , which is . Since the  term is the positive one, the hyperbola opens horizontally, which means we need to look at the denominator of that  term.

The denominator is which is , so our vertices are , or

and .

### Example Question #13 : Hyperbolic Functions

Write the expression for this hyperbola in standard form:

Explanation:

The standard form of a hyperbola is

or the similar form with a positive  term and negative  term. So to start out getting this equation in standard form, we must complete the square on the quadratics in  and .

the coefficient of is , so completing the square we get

and similarly with we get

and so our starting expression can be written as

Dividing by  on both sides we get the standard representation of the hyperbola,

### Example Question #2 : Graphing Hyperbolic Functions

Find the vertices of the following hyperbolic function: