9.

4 Rotation and Systems of

Quadratic Equations
Gillian Mosher, Kayla Nicolich, Tej Patel, Vannessa Torres

Standard Form of Conics

Conic axes are parallel to the coordinate axes
Ax + Cy + Dx + Ey + F = 0

Conics with Rotated Axes

the axes of the conics are rotated so that they are not
parallel to either the x-axis or the y-axis
Ax + Bxy + Cy + Dx + Ey + F = 0
to eliminate the xy-term, use a procedure called
rotation of axes
Rotate x- and y-axes until they are parallel to the conic
axes

y
y
x

x
After the rotation, the equation of the conic in
the new xy-plane will have the form:

A(x) + C(y) + Dx + Ey + F = 0
this equation has no xy-term
obtain standard form by completing
the square

Rotation of Axes to Eliminate an xy-Term

Ax + Bxy + Cy + Dx + Ey + F = 0
can be rewritten as

A(x) + C(y) + Dx + Ey + F = 0

To find the coefficients of the new

equation, make the following
substitutions:
x = x cos - y sin
and
y= xsin + ycos

when you rotate the coordinate axes through

an angle , cot2 = A-C
B
ccc

To find what conic you are using, these

following equations will help you:
An ellipse or circle if B-4AC<0
A parabola if B-4AC=0
A hyperbola if B 4AC > 0

Example 1 - Rotation of Axes for a Hyperbola

Rotate the axes to eliminate the xy-term in the equation xy - 1 = 0.
Then write the equation in standard form and sketch its graph.

Another example for Hyperbolas:

xy + 1= 0

Rotation of Axes for an Ellipse

Rotate the axes to eliminate the xy-term in the equation
7x- 63 xy + 13y - 16 = 0. Then write the equation in standard
form and sketch the graph.

Another example for Ellipses:

3x - 23 xy + y + 2x + 23 y = 0

Example 3 - Rotation of Axes

for Parabolas:
Rotate the axes to eliminate the xy-term in the
equation
x - 4xy + 4y + 55 y + 1 = 0

Invariants Under Rotation

Rotation Invariants
The rotation of the coordinate axes
through an angle that transforms
the equation
Ax + Bxy + Cy + Dx + Ey + F = 0
into the form
A(x) + C(y) + Dx + Ey + F = 0
has the following rotation invariants.
1. F = F
2. A + C = A + C
3. B - 4AC = (B) - 4AC+ Ey + F =
0

use the results of this theorem to

classify the graph of a seconddegree equation with an xy-term
in much the same way that you
classify the graph of a seconddegree equation without an xyterm. Because B = 0, the
invariant B - 4AC reduces to
B - 4AC = -4AC
this quantity is called the
discriminant of the equation

Classification of Conics by the Discriminant

the graph of
Ax + Bxy + Cy + Dx + Ey + F = 0
you know that the sign of AC
determines the type of graph for
A(x) + C(y) + Dx + Ey + F = 0

Ax + Bxy + Cy + Dx + Ey + F = 0 is usually
determined by its discriminant
1. Ellipse or circle: B - 4AC < 0
2. Parabola: B - 4AC = 0

similarly, the sign of B - 4AC will

determine the type of graph for
the original equation

3. Hyperbola: B - 4AC > 0

example: 3x + 7xy + 5y - 6x - 7y + 15 = 0
A=3 B=7 C=5
discriminant is B - 4AC = 7 - 4(3)(5) = 49 - 60
= -11
-11 < 0, so the graph of the equation is an
ellipse or circle

Example 4 - Rotations and Graphing Utilities

For each equation, classify the graph of the equation, and
use the Quadratic Formula to solve for y.
a. 2x - 3xy + 2y - 2x = 0
b. x - 6xy + 9y - 2y + 1 = 0
c. 3x + 8xy + 4y - 7 = 0
. 16x - 24xy + 9y - 30x - 40y = 0

Example 5 - Solving a Quadratic Equation by

Elimination
Solve the system of quadratic equations:
x + y - 16x + 39 = 0
x - y - 9 = 0

-4x + 9y - 36y = 0
x + y - 27 = 0

Example 6 - Solving a Quadratic System by

Substitution
Solve the system of quadratic equations:
x + 4y - 4x - 8y + 4 =0
x + 4y - 4 = 0

2x - y + 6 = 0
2x + y = 0