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Pre Calculus Definitions

There are four main types of conic sections: circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. Each conic section is formed by intersecting a double-napped cone with a plane in a different way. Circles are formed when the plane is perpendicular to the axis of the cone. Parabolas are formed when the plane is parallel to the generator of the cone. Ellipses are formed when the plane intersects the cone at an angle, resulting in a squished circle shape. Hyperbolas have two branches that look like mirrored parabolas with opposite openings, and are formed when a plane intersects a double-napped cone. Each conic section has distinct properties defined by

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29 views2 pages

Pre Calculus Definitions

There are four main types of conic sections: circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. Each conic section is formed by intersecting a double-napped cone with a plane in a different way. Circles are formed when the plane is perpendicular to the axis of the cone. Parabolas are formed when the plane is parallel to the generator of the cone. Ellipses are formed when the plane intersects the cone at an angle, resulting in a squished circle shape. Hyperbolas have two branches that look like mirrored parabolas with opposite openings, and are formed when a plane intersects a double-napped cone. Each conic section has distinct properties defined by

Uploaded by

Venise Revilla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pre-Cal reviewer

Conic sections

— also known as conics


— are formed by intersecting a double-napped cone with a plane.
— When an infinite cone is intersected by a plane, the resulting figure is called a conic section.

Four main conic sections:

Circles

Parabolas

Ellipses

Hyperbola.

Circle

— is a conic section that is formed by intersecting a cone with a plane that is perpendicular to the
axis of the cone
— is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point called the center (h,k)
— The distance from the center to any point (x, y) on the circle is called the radius, denoted by r.

Parabola

— is formed when a plane parallel to the generator of the cone intersects the cone.
— is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed line called the Directrix and a
fixed point of the plane known as the Focus.

Ellipse

— When you cut a cone at an angle, observe that you can form a closed curve, which is in shape or
looks like a squished circle. This shape is also known as an ellipse.
— is the set of all points P in a plane such that the sum of its distances from two fixed points on a
plane is constant.
— The fixed points are referred to as foci and the constant sum is the length of major axis of the
ellipse.

vertex — the endpoints of the major axis (longer axis)

Co-vertex — end point of minor axis (shorter axis)

Center — is the point of intersection of major and minor axis.

Foci — two fixed point on the major axis.


latus rectum — chord that passes through a focus and is perpendicular to the major axis.

Hyperbola

— has two foci and two vertices.


— looks like two mirrored parabolas whose vertices lie on the same horizontal or vertical line and
with opposite openings of the graphs.
— formed when a plane intersects a double-napped cone.
— is the set of all points P in a plane such that the difference of its distances from two fixed points,
called the foci, is constant.

Two basic forms of a hyperbola

— hyperbola with a horizontal transverse axis and a hyperbola with a vertical transverse axis.

The graph of a hyperbola consists of two different parts which are called branches.

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