hyperbola question...how do you...?

Question

i dont get this equation

x^2/a^2 - y^2 /b^2

how do you do that?
i mean, how do u solve that? do u substitute the a, y, x, and b or what?

Answer 1

That's not an equation. There is no equal sign. It has to be equal to something. It should probably read:

x²/a² - y²/b² = 1

This is the equation of a pair of hyperbolas with center at the origin that open sideways. The transverse axis has length 2a and the conjugate axis has length 2b.