Find The Equation Of the hyperbolic mirror of a Telescope That Contains A Parabolic And Hyperbolic Mirror

algebra-precalculustrigonometry

I'm currently taking a pre-calc/trig class and doing my homework regarding parabolas and hyperbolas.

The word problem is this:

A telescope contains both a parabolic mirror and a hyperbolic mirror. They share focus F1, which is 44ft above the vertex of the parabola. The hyperbola's second focus F2 is 6 ft above the parabola's vertex. The vertex of the hyperbolic mirror is 3ft below F1. Find the equation of the hyperbola if the center is at the origin of a coordinate system and the foci are on the y-axis.

From the above I have gathered the transverse axis is vertical. I believe $C^2$ = 44, $A^2$ = 6, but I'm not sure that $B^2$ = 3. I found the second half the equation by adding 6 + 3 = 9, 44 – 9 = 35. 35 * 3 = 105. $\frac{y^2}{256}$$\frac{x^2}{105}$ = 1.

I'm having trouble figuring out how they came to the conclusion of $\frac{y^2}{256}$.

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Best Answer

See the picture.
$F_1F_2=38\Rightarrow c=19.$
The major half-axis is $a=16,\;$ hence $b^2=19^2-16^2=105,$
from where the equation $$\frac{y^2}{256}-\frac{x^2}{105}=1.$$

enter image description here

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