Parabola: Difference between revisions
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A '''parabola''' is a type of [[conic section]]. A parabola is a [[locus]] of points that are equidistant from a point (the [[vertex]]) and a line (the [[directrix]]). | A '''parabola''' is a type of [[conic section]]. A parabola is a [[locus]] of points that are equidistant from a point (the [[vertex]]) and a line (the [[directrix]]). | ||
== Parabola Equations == | == Parabola Equations == | ||
There are several "standard" ways to write the equation of a parabola. The first is polynomial form: y = ax^2+bx+c where a, b, and c are constants. The second is completed square form, or <math>y=a(x-k)^2+c</math> where a, k, and c are constants. The third way is the conic section form, or y^2=4px or <math>x^2=4py</math> where the p is a constant, and is the distance from the focus to the directrix. | There are several "standard" ways to write the equation of a parabola. The first is polynomial form: y = ax^2+bx+c where a, b, and c are constants. The second is completed square form, or <math>y=a(x-k)^2+c</math> where a, k, and c are constants. The third way is the conic section form, or y^2=4px or <math>x^2=4py</math> where the p is a constant, and is the distance from the focus to the directrix. | ||
Revision as of 13:01, 18 June 2006
A parabola is a type of conic section. A parabola is a locus of points that are equidistant from a point (the vertex) and a line (the directrix).
Parabola Equations
There are several "standard" ways to write the equation of a parabola. The first is polynomial form: y = ax^2+bx+c where a, b, and c are constants. The second is completed square form, or 
where a, k, and c are constants. The third way is the conic section form, or y^2=4px or 
where the p is a constant, and is the distance from the focus to the directrix.
