FORMATION OF CONICS

According to Apollonius of Perga, curves were formed by the intersection of a

plane and a double right circular cone and discovered many properties of
these curves. These curves were later known as conic sections. The cone was
thought of as having two parts that extended infinitely in both directions. A line
lying entirely on the cone is referred to as a generator of the cone. All
generators of a cone pass through the intersection of the two parts called the
vertex.
• If the cutting plane is not parallel to any generator, the curve is an ellipse. If
the cutting plane is not parallel to any generator but it is perpendicular to the
axis, the ellipse becomes a circle.
• If the cutting plane is parallel to one and only one generator, the curve is a
parabola.
• If the cutting plane is parallel to two generators, the curve is a hyperbola.
There are other ways for a plane and the cones to intersect, to form what are
referred to as degenerate conics: a point, one line, and two lines. See Figures
1.4, 1.5 and 1.6.

DEFINITION OF CIRCLE
A circle may also be
considered a special kind of
ellipse.

A circle is a set of all

coplanar points such that the
distance from a fixed point is
constant.

The fixed point is called the

center (Point C) of the circle
and the constant distance
from the center is called the
radius (r) of the circle.
DEFINITION OF PARABOLA
A parabola is a set of all coplanar
points that are equidistant from a fixed
line and a fixed point not on the fixed
line.
The fixed line is called the directrix of
the parabola and the fixed point is
called the focus.
The line perpendicular to the directrix
and passing through the focus F is
called the axis of symmetry. The
parabola is said to be symmetric with
respect to this line. The chord that
passes through the focus and
perpendicular to the axis of symmetry
is called the latus rectum.
The point on the parabola midway between the latus rectum and the directrix is
the vertex of the parabola. The vertex is the point where the curve changes
direction.
A parabola is said to be in standard position if its vertex is at the origin and its
principal axis is one of the coordinate axes.

DEFINITION OF ELLIPSE
An ellipse is a set of all coplanar points
such that the sum of its distances from
two fixed points is constant. The fixed
points are called foci (singular focus)
of the ellipse. It has two axes of
symmetry. Each of these axes is
important when dealing with ellipse.
The longer axis is called major axis,
and the shorter axis is called the minor
axis. The major axis contains the foci.
Consequently, the foci are inside the
ellipse.
The intersection of the two axes is called the center of the ellipse. The center is
the midpoint between the two foci, and also the midpoint between the two
vertices. The ellipse intersects the major axis in two points called vertices
(singular vertex). These are the endpoints of the major axis. A segment passing
through a focus of the ellipse that is perpendicular to the major axis is called a
latus rectum (plural latera recta). A line outside the ellipse that is parallel to the
minor axis and has the same distance from a vertex as the focus is the directrix.
Since there are two foci, there are also two directrices.
DEFINITION OF HYPERBOLA
A hyperbola is a set of all coplanar
points such that the difference of its
distances from two fixed points is
constant. The fixed points are called
the foci of the hyperbola. A hyperbola,
like ellipse, has two axes of symmetry,
two vertices, two foci and two latus
rectum. The hyperbola intersects the
focal axis in two points called the
vertices. These vertices are the
endpoints of a segment called the
transverse axis. The center, is also the
midpoint between two vertices.
The axis that contains the foci, the center, and the vertices of the hyperbola is
referred to as focal axis or principal axis. Another axis that plays an important
role in defining the hyperbola is the conjugate axis. This axis has no point in
common with the hyperbola. It is perpendicular to the transverse axis at the
center. A segment passing through a focus of the hyperbola that is
perpendicular to the focal axis is called latus rectum. An auxiliary rectangle that
is not part of the hyperbola plays an important role in graphing the hyperbola. A
pair of opposite sides of rectangle passes through the vertices. These are
perpendicular to the transverse axis. The other pair passes through the endpoints
of the conjugate axis. A pair of line that is closely related to but also not part of
the hyperbola are the asymptotes of the hyperbola. The asymptotes intersect at
the center of the hyperbola. A hyperbola approaches its asymptotes but still
never intersect them. Each of the asymptotes passes through the opposite
vertices of the auxiliary rectangle.