A Comet Follows the Hyperbolic Path Described By $\frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 10 } - \frac { y ^ { 2 } } { 2 } = 1$

question 196

Multiple Choice

A comet follows the hyperbolic path described by $\frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 10 } - \frac { y ^ { 2 } } { 2 } = 1$ , where $x$ and $y$ are in millions of miles. If the sun is the focus of the path, how close to the sun is the vertex of the path?

• A) 3.7 million mi
• B) 0.3 million mi
• C) 3.2 million mi
• D) 12 million mi