Digital Lesson
Parametric Equations
The path of an object thrown into the air at a 45°
angle at 48 feet per second can be represented by
2
x
y x. Rectangular equation
72 horizontal distance (x)
vertical distance (y)
A pair of parametric equations are equations with
both x and y written as functions of a third variable
such as time, t.
Now the distances x 24 2t Parametric equation for x
depend on the
time, t. y 16t 2 24 2t Parametric equation for y
t is the parameter.
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Example: 2 x 24 2t
x
y x Parametric
72 equations y 16t 2 24 2t
y t3 2
4
(36, 18)
18
t3 2
2
9 (72, 0)
x
9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72
(0, 0)
t=0
two variables (x and y) for position
Curvilinear motion:
one variable (t) for time
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t3 2
4
y
(36, 18)
18 t3 2
2
9 (72, 0)
(0, 0)
t=0 x
9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72
If f and g are continuous functions of t, the set of
ordered pairs (f(t), g(t)) is the plane curve, C.
x = f(t) and y = g(t)
parameter
parametric equations for C
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Example:
Sketch the curve given by
x = t + 2 and y = t2, – 3 t 3.
t –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
x –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
y 9 4 1 0 1 4 9 y
8
orientation of the curve
4
x
-4 4
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Graphing Utility: Sketch the curve given by
x = t + 2 and y = t2, – 3 t 3.
Mode Menu:
Set to parametric mode.
Window Graph Table
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Eliminating the parameter is a process for finding
the rectangular equation (in x and y) of a curve
represented by parametric equations.
x=t+2
Parametric equations
y = t2
t=x–2 Solve for t in one equation.
y = (x –2)2 Substitute into the second equation.
y = (x –2)2 Equation of a parabola with the vertex at (2, 0)
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Example:
Identify the curve represented by x = 2t and y t 2
by eliminating the parameter.
tx Solve for t in one equation.
2
y x 2 Substitute into the second equation.
2 y
8
4
y x 2
2
x
-4 4
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Example:
Find a set of parametric equations to represent the
graph of y = 4x – 3. Use the parameter t = x.
x=t Parametric equation for x.
y = 4t – 3 Substitute into the original rectangular equation.
y
8 y = 4t – 3
x
-4 4
-4
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Application:
The center-field fence in a ballpark is 10 feet high and 400
feet from home plate. A baseball is hit at a point 3 feet above
the ground and leaves the bat at a speed of 150 feet per second
at an angle of 15. The parametric equations for its path are
x = 145t and y = 3 + 39t – 16t2.
Graph the path of the baseball. Is the hit a home run?
25 y
20
The ball only traveled
364 feet and was not a
15
home run.
10
(364, 0)
5
(0, 3)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
x
Home Run
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