If the equation of a conic section is #(x+6)^2/81-(y+1)^2/16=1#, how has its center been translated?

1 Answer
Feb 2, 2015

This is the equation of an hyperbola centered in the point #C(-6,-1)#, with semi-axes: #a=9# and #b=4#.

The equation of an hyperbola centered in #O(0,0)# with semi-axes #a# and #b# is:

#x^2/a^2-y^2/b^2=+-1#.

If the second member is #1# then the hyperbola has the two branches on the "left" and on the "right".

E.G.: #x^2/4-y^2/9=1#

graph{x^2/4-y^2/9=1 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}

If the second member is #-1# then the hyperbola has the two branches "up and "down":

E.G.: #x^2/4-y^2/9=-1#

graph{x^2/4-y^2/9=-1 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}

The equation of an hyperbola centered in #C(x_c,y_c)# with semi-axes #a# and #b# is:

#(x-x_c)^2/a^2-(y-y_c)^2/b^2=+-1#.

So, our hyperbola is:

#(x+6)^2/81-(y+1)^2/16=1#.

graph{(x+6)^2/81-(y+1)^2/16=1 [-20, 10, -20, 20]}