Discriminant of Conic Equation
Δ=abc+2fgh−af2−bg2−ch2 The condition parameter for the general second degree equation.
applies whenIf Δ=0, represents pair of lines. If Δ=0, a true conic. conicdiscriminantjee-advanced
Ellipse Parametric Coordinates
(acosθ,bsinθ) Parametric coordinates of a point on an ellipse.
applies whenEccentric angle θ. ellipseparametricjee-advanced
Ellipse focal distance relation
c2=a2−b2 Relation between semi-major axis, semi-minor axis, and focus distance.
ellipseparameters
x=±ea Equations of the directrix lines for a standard horizontal ellipse.
applies whenHorizontal major axis.
ellipsedirectrix
e=ac=1−a2b2 Ratio of distance from centre to focus and centre to vertex.
ellipseeccentricity
Length of the latus rectum of a standard ellipse.
applies whenSemi-major axis a, semi-minor axis b. ellipselatus-rectum
Condition of Tangency (Ellipse)
y=mx±a2m2+b2 Equation of a tangent to a standard ellipse with slope m.
ellipsetangentjee-advanced
General Second Degree Equation
ax2+2hxy+by2+2gx+2fy+c=0 General equation representing any conic section.
applies whenRepresents different conics based on discriminant Δ and h2−ab. conicgeneraljee-advanced
Hyperbola focal distance relation
c2=a2+b2 Relation between semi-transverse axis, semi-conjugate axis, and focal distance.
hyperbolaparameters
Eccentricity of Hyperbola
e=ac=1+a2b2 Ratio of distance from centre to focus and centre to vertex.
hyperbolaeccentricity
Latus Rectum of Hyperbola
Length of the latus rectum for a standard hyperbola.
hyperbolalatus-rectum
Condition of Tangency (Hyperbola)
y=mx±a2m2−b2 Equation of a tangent to a standard hyperbola with slope m.
applies when∣m∣>ab hyperbolatangentjee-advanced
Length of the latus rectum for a standard parabola.
applies whenFor parabola y2=4ax. parabolalatus-rectum
Focal Chord Property (Parabola)
t1t2=−1 Relationship between parameters of endpoints of a focal chord.
applies whenEndpoints have parameters t1 and t2. parabolafocal-chordjee-advanced
Parabola Parametric Coordinates
(at2,2at) Parametric form for any point on a standard parabola.
applies whenFor parabola y2=4ax. parabolaparametricjee-advanced
Condition of Tangency (Parabola)
y=mx+ma Equation of a tangent line to a parabola with slope m.
applies whenFor parabola y2=4ax, m=0. parabolatangentjee-advanced
Inscribed Equilateral Triangle (Parabola)
L=8a3 Side length of an equilateral triangle inscribed in a parabola with one vertex at the origin.
applies whenFor y2=4ax. parabolatriangleexercisejee-advanced
(x−x1)(x−x2)+(y−y1)(y−y2)=0 Equation of a circle given the endpoints of its diameter.
applies whenEndpoints of diameter are (x1,y1) and (x2,y2). circlediametricjee-advanced
x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0 General algebraic equation of a circle.
applies wheng2+f2−c≥0 circlegeneraljee-advanced
Circle with centre at origin
x2+y2=r2 Equation of a circle with centre (0, 0) and radius r.
applies whenCentre at origin.
circleorigin
(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2 Equation of a circle with centre (h, k) and radius r.
applies whenStandard 2D cartesian coordinate system.
circlestandard
a2x2+b2y2=1 Equation of an ellipse with horizontal major axis.
applies whenCentre at origin, a>b. ellipsestandard
b2x2+a2y2=1 Equation of an ellipse with vertical major axis.
applies whenCentre at origin, a>b. ellipsestandard
a2x2−b2y2=1 Equation of a hyperbola with horizontal transverse axis.
applies whenCentre at origin.
hyperbolastandard
a2y2−b2x2=1 Equation of a hyperbola with vertical transverse axis.
applies whenCentre at origin.
hyperbolastandard
Equation of an equilateral hyperbola rotated by 45 degrees.
applies whenAsymptotes are the coordinate axes.
hyperbolarectangularjee-advanced
Parabola standard (Right)
Equation of a rightward opening parabola.
applies whenVertex at origin, axis along x-axis, a>0. parabolastandard
Equation of a downward opening parabola.
applies whenVertex at origin, axis along negative y-axis, a>0. parabolastandard
Equation of a leftward opening parabola.
applies whenVertex at origin, axis along negative x-axis, a>0. parabolastandard
Equation of an upward opening parabola.
applies whenVertex at origin, axis along positive y-axis, a>0. parabolastandard