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Viewing Version 19 of 'unit hyperbola'
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Title of object: unit hyperbola
Canonical Name: UnitHyperbola
Type: Definition

Created on: 2004-07-12 18:43:06
Modified on: 2007-05-22 01:56:10

Creator: pahio
Modifier: pahio
Author: pahio
Author: drini

Classification: msc:51N20
Defines: rectangular hyperbola

Revision comment (for changes between this and next version):

defines -

Preamble:

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\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{amsfonts}

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%\usepackage{psfrag}
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Content:

The {\em unit hyperbola} (cf. the unit circle) is the special case
$$x^2-y^2 = 1$$
of the hyperbola
$$\frac{x^2}{a^2}-\frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1$$
where both the \PMlinkescapetext{{\em transverse semiaxis}} $a$ and the \PMlinkescapetext{{\em conjugate semiaxis}} $b$ have \PMlinkescapetext{length} equal to 1.\, The unit hyperbola is {\em rectangular}, i.e. its asymptotes ($y = \pm x$) are at right angles to each other.
\begin{center}
\includegraphics{unithyperola}
\end{center}

The unit hyperbola has the well-known parametric \PMlinkescapetext{representation}
$$x = \pm\cosh{t}, \quad y = \sinh{t},$$
and also a trigonometric \PMlinkescapetext{representation}
$$x = \sec{t}, \quad y = \tan{t}.$$
The former yields the rational \PMlinkescapetext{representation}
$$x = \frac{u^2+1}{2u}, \quad y = \frac{u^2-1}{2u}$$
when one substitutes \,$e^t = u$, and the latter, via the substitution \,$\tan\frac{t}{2} = u$, the rational \PMlinkescapetext{representation}
$$x = \frac{1+u^2}{1-u^2}, \quad y = \frac{2u}{1-u^2}$$
(which does not give the left apex of the hyperbola).