Definition of a Hyperbola

Hyperbolas were introduced in Introduction to Conic Sections, as one of several different curves (‘conic sections’) that are formed by intersecting a plane with an infinite double cone.

Identifying Conics by the Discriminant introduced the general equation for any conic section, and gave conditions under which the graph would be a hyperbola.

In this current section, we present and explore the standard definition of a hyperbola. This definition facilitates the derivation of standard equations for hyperbolas.

Recall that the notation ‘$\,d(P,Q)\,$’ denotes the distance between points $\,P\,$ and $\,Q\,.$

$\,P\,$ is a general point on the hyperbola.

Notes on the Definition of a Hyperbola

Study the sketch below as you read these notes.

Difference Between Two Numbers

If you're asked for the difference between (say) the numbers $\,5\,$ and $\,7\,$ (or $\,7\,$ and $\,5\,$), then you automatically take the greater and subtract the lesser, giving $\,7 - 5 = 2\,.$

However, if asked for the difference between variables $\,a\,$ and $\,b\,,$ then you may not know which (if either) is greater! This is why the absolute value is needed in the definition of a hyperbola:

Hyperbola Constant

Take any point $\,P\,$ on a hyperbola. Travel from $\,P\,$ to one focus, and record this distance. Travel from $\,P\,$ to the other focus, and record this distance. Take the larger recorded distance, and subtract the smaller. You'll always get the hyperbola constant, $\,k\,.$

Major Axis of a Hyperbola

By definition, the line through the two foci is called the major axis of the hyperbola. The major axis is the dotted line in the image above.

Vertices of a Hyperbola

By definition, the points where a hyperbola intersects its major axis are called the vertices of the hyperbola. The singular form of ‘vertices’ is ‘vertex’. Above, the vertices are labeled $\,V_1\,$ and $\,V_2\,.$

Notation and an Observation

Let $\,V_1\,$ and $\,V_2\,$ denote the vertices closest to $\,F_1\,$ and $\,F_2\,,$ respectively. Define $\,t_1 := d(V_1,F_1)\,$ and $\,t_2 := d(V_2,F_2)\,.$ Define $\,s := d(V_1,V_2)\,,$ so $\,s\,$ is the length of the red segment below. Let $\,k\,$ denote the hyperbola constant.

We must have $\,t_1 = t_2\,,$ as follows:

Since $\,V_1\,$ is a point on the hyperbola:

Since $\,V_2\,$ is a point on the hyperbola:

Solving (*) and (**) simultaneously gives:

Therefore, define $\,t := d(V_1,F_1) = d(V_2,F_2)\,,$ so $\,t\,$ is the length of each blue segment below.

The Hyperbola Constant is the Distance Between the Vertices

A hyperbola ‘shows’ its hyperbola constant as the distance between the two vertices.

Why? Since $\,V_1\,$ is a point on the hyperbola with hyperbola constant $\,k\,,$ we have:

The line through the foci, $\,F_1\,$ and $\,F_2\,,$ is the major axis of the hyperbola.

The points $\,V_1\,$ and $\,V_2\,,$ where the major axis intersects the hyperbola, are the vertices of the hyperbola.

A hyperbola ‘shows’ its hyperbola constant as the distance between the vertices.

Playing with the Definition of a Hyperbola

You can play with hyperbolas using the dynamic JSXGraph below.

The Foci

$F_1\,$ and $\,F_2\,$ are the foci. They're plotted below with the point-style . (To keep the graph uncluttered, they're not labeled.)

Move them around! As you hover over each focus, you can see its coordinates.

The Slider Sets the Hyperbola Constant

The slider at the top sets the hyperbola constant. The slider can be set to numbers between $\,0\,$ and $\,20\,$ with increments of $\,0.5\,.$ The starting value is $\,5\,$ (refresh the page as needed).

The current distance between the foci is displayed near the bottom. Watch this distance change as you move the foci around. The starting value for $\,d(F_1,F_2)\,$ is $\,10\,$ (refresh the page as needed).

In order to see a hyperbola, the hyperbola constant (slider value) must be strictly less than the distance between the foci.

Move $\,P\,$ and $\,Q\,$ Around

$P\,$ is a general point on the hyperbola. $\,Q\,$ is a free point (it can be moved anywhere). Move them both around! The difference of their distances to the foci is shown at top/bottom.

Degenerate Cases

When the hyperbola constant equals the distance between the foci, the ‘hyperbola’ degenerates to two rays. (See the discussion below; this situation does not render on the dynamic JSXGraph.)

When the hyperbola constant equals zero, the ‘hyperbola’ degenerates to the perpendicular bisector of the segment between the foci. (See the discussion below.)

Foci: $\,F_1\,$ and $\,F_2\,,$ marked with

Vertices: marked in red

$\,P\,$:  a typical point on the hyperbola

$\,Q\,$:  a free point (can be moved anywhere)

An Analysis of the Hyperbola Constant

In the definition of hyperbola, the hyperbola constant $\,k\,$ is required to be positive, and strictly less than the distance between the two foci:

Why? As shown below, other values of $\,k\,$ don't give anything that a reasonable person would want to call a hyperbola!

$k \lt 0\,$:  No Points in the Solution Set

Absolute value is always nonnegative. That is, $\,|x| \ge 0\,$ for all real numbers $\,x\,.$ Therefore, if $\,k \lt 0\,,$ there are no points $\,P\,$ for which the hyperbola equation is true:

$k = 0\,$:  Perpendicular Bisector of Segment Between the Foci

The equation $\,|x| = 0\,$ is equivalent to $\,x = 0\,,$ for all real numbers $\,x\,.$ Thus, the following are equivalent:

Above, $\,Q\,$ is the midpoint of the segment $\,\overline{F_1F_2}\,$ that connects the foci.

When $\,k = 0\,,$ the set of points satisfying the hyperbola equation is the perpendicular bisector of $\,\overline{F_1F_2}\,.$

A ‘Two Ray’ Hyperbola:  $\,k = d(F_1,F_2)$

Suppose the hyperbola constant, $\,k\,,$ equals the distance between the foci. That is, $\,k = d(F_1,F_2)\,.$

In this case, the solution set to the equation

is two rays, with $\,F_1\,$ and $\,F_2\,$ as endpoints, lying along the major axis.

This degenerate hyperbola is shown below, in black. $\,P\,$ is a point on the degenerate hyperbola.  

The black curve (two rays) is a degenerate hyperbola. It occurs when the hyperbola constant equals the distance between the foci.

$\color{green}{d(P,F_1)}\,$ is the length of the green segment

$\,\color{red}{d(P,F_2)}\,$ is the length of the red segment

The difference of these two lengths
is the hyperbola constant, which (in this case)
is the distance between the foci.

An ‘Empty’ Hyperbola:  $\,k \gt d(F_1,F_2)$

Suppose $\,F_1\,$ and $\,F_2\,$ are distinct points in a plane, and let $\,k \gt d(F_1,F_2)\,.$ Let $\,P\,$ be any point in the plane.

Switch names (if needed) so that $\,P\,$ is closer to $\,F_1\,$ (or equidistant from both foci). This situation is illustrated above.

The shortest distance between any two points is a straight line. In particular (refer to the sketch above), traveling from $\,P\,$ to $\,F_1\,,$ and then from $\,F_1\,$ to $\,F_2\,,$ must exceed (or equal) $\,\color{red}{d(P,F_2)}\,$:

Re-arranging:

We have:

Consequently, there are no points $\,P\,$ for which the hyperbola equation is true:

Most people don't want to call any of these situations—the empty set, a line, or two rays—a hyperbola! This is why these values for $\,k\,$ are not allowed in the definition of hyperbola.