All Flashcards
What is a conic section?
Shapes formed when a plane intersects a cone.
Define a parabola.
All points equidistant from a focus and a directrix.
What is the vertex of a parabola?
The turning point of the parabola.
Define an ellipse.
A conic section where the sum of the distances from any point on the ellipse to two foci is constant.
What are the foci of an ellipse?
Two special points inside the ellipse used in its definition.
Define a hyperbola.
A conic section formed by the intersection of a plane with a double cone.
What are the asymptotes of a hyperbola?
Lines that the hyperbola approaches as it extends to infinity.
What is the directrix of a parabola?
A line such that every point on the parabola is equidistant from the focus and the directrix.
What is the major axis of an ellipse?
The longest diameter of the ellipse, passing through the center and both foci.
What is the minor axis of an ellipse?
The shortest diameter of the ellipse, passing through the center and perpendicular to the major axis.
How to identify a conic section from its general equation?
Check for squared terms, their coefficients, and the sign between them. No squared term = line. Same coefficients with + = circle. Different coefficients with + = ellipse. - sign = hyperbola. One squared term = parabola.
How to find the center of an ellipse given its equation?
Identify 'h' and 'k' from the standard equation . The center is (h, k).
How to find the foci of a hyperbola given its equation?
- Find a and b. 2. Calculate c using . 3. The foci are at (h ± c, k) if horizontal, or (h, k ± c) if vertical.
How to find the vertex of a parabola given its equation?
Identify 'h' and 'k' from the standard equation or . The vertex is (h, k).
How to determine the direction a parabola opens?
If the x-term is squared, it opens up or down. If the y-term is squared, it opens left or right. If the coefficient 'a' is positive, it opens up or right; if negative, down or left.
How to find the equation of an ellipse given its foci and major axis length?
- Find the center (midpoint of foci). 2. Find 'a' (half major axis length). 3. Find 'c' (distance from center to focus). 4. Calculate 'b' using . 5. Write the equation.
How to find the asymptotes of a hyperbola?
For a hyperbola centered at (h, k) with equation , the asymptotes are .
How to convert the general form of a conic section to standard form?
Complete the square for both x and y terms to get the equation into the standard form for the specific conic section.
How to find the directrix of a parabola?
- Find the vertex (h, k). 2. Determine 'a' from the equation. 3. The directrix is a line y = k - p for parabolas opening up/down or x = h - p for parabolas opening left/right, where p = 1/(4a).
How to determine the major and minor axes of an ellipse from its equation?
Identify 'a' and 'b' in the equation . The major axis has length 2a, and the minor axis has length 2b.
Explain how 'a' affects a parabola.
'a' determines the direction and width. Positive 'a' opens right/up, negative opens left/down.
Explain the relationship between a circle and an ellipse.
If a = b in an ellipse, it becomes a circle.
How do you determine if a hyperbola opens horizontally or vertically?
The term with the positive sign indicates the direction of opening.
What does the center (h, k) represent in the standard equation of a conic section?
It represents the center point of the conic section, whether it's a circle, ellipse, or hyperbola.
Explain how the distance from the center to the foci affects the shape of an ellipse.
A larger distance between the center and foci results in a more elongated ellipse.
Explain how the distance from the center to the foci affects the shape of a hyperbola.
The foci of a hyperbola determine its curvature; as foci move further from the center, the hyperbola becomes wider.
Describe the relationship between the focus and directrix of a parabola.
Every point on the parabola is equidistant from the focus and the directrix.
What is the significance of the asymptotes of a hyperbola?
They serve as guidelines for the branches of the hyperbola, indicating how the hyperbola extends to infinity.
Explain how changing the values of 'a' and 'b' affects the shape of an ellipse.
Changing 'a' and 'b' alters the lengths of the major and minor axes, thus changing the ellipse's elongation and orientation.
Explain how changing the values of 'a' and 'b' affects the shape of a hyperbola.
Changing 'a' and 'b' alters the slopes of the asymptotes, thus changing the hyperbola's width and orientation.