Difference between revisions of "Parabola"
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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]]). | ||
| − | [[Image: | + | [[Image:Parabola.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Parabolic Curve Showing Directrix. Its Equation: <math>x^2 = 8y</math>]] |
Revision as of 13:00, 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).
File:Parabola.jpg
Parabolic Curve Showing Directrix. Its Equation: 
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.
