# Hyperbola - Standard Equation of Hyperbola

#### notes

The equation of a hyperbola is simplest if the centre of the hyperbola is at the origin and the foci are on the x-axis or y-axis.  The two such possible orientations in following fig.

Let F_1 and F_2 be the foci and O be the mid-point of the line segment
F_1F_2.  Let O be the origin and the line through O through F_2 be the positive x-axis and that through F_1 as the negative x-axis.  The line through O perpendicular to the x-axis be the y-axis.  Let the coordinates of F_1 be (– c,0) and F_2 be (c,0) in following fig.

Let P(x, y) be any point on the hyperbola such that the difference of the distances from P to the farther point minus the closer point be 2a. So given,  PF_1 – PF_2 = 2a
Using the distance formula, we have
sqrt((x + c)^2+y^2) - sqrt((x-c)^2 + y^2) =2a

i.e., sqrt((x + c)^2+y^2) = 2a + sqrt((x-c)^2 + y^2)

Squaring both side, we get

(x + c)^2 + y^2 = 4a^2 + 4a  sqrt((x-c)^2 + y^2) + ((x + c)^2+y^2)

and on simplifying, we get

(cx)/a-a = sqrt((x-c)^2 + y^2)

On squaring again and further simplifying, we get

x^2/a^2 - y^2/(c^2 -a^2) = 1
i.e., x^2/a^2 -y^2/b^2=1                       (since c^2-a^2=b^2)

Hence any point on the hyperbola satisfies  x^2/a^2 -y^2/b^2=1

From the standard equations of hyperbolas, we observ that:

1. Hyperbola is symmetric with respect to both the axes, since if (x, y) is a point on the hyperbola, then (– x, y), (x, – y) and (– x, – y) are also points on the hyperbola.

2. The foci are always on the transverse axis.  It is the positive term whose denominator gives the transverse axis.

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Standard Equation of Hyperbola [00:08:32]
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