The Geometric Properties of Curves
Conics were already studied extensively by the Ancient Greeks.
Apollonius of Perga (3rd Century B.C.) wrote an extensive treatise on
these curves which he called Conic Sections.
APOLLONIUS
a. Was credited with producing 8 books and about 400
propositions or theorems in the subject.
b. Was credited for having given the names ellipse,
parabola, and hyperbola
Nappes – a plane used to cut two inverted right circular cones connected
at their vertices.
THE FOUR BASIC CONICS:
1. Circle – the plane cuts one nappe perpendicularly to the cone axis.
2. Ellipse – the plane cuts one nappe perpendicularly to the cone axis.
3. Parabola – the plane cuts one nappe parallel to the side of a cone.
4. Hyperbola – the plane intersects both nappes and is parallel to the
cone axis.
DEGENERATE CONICS – the cutting plane crosses the vertex
Three Degenerate Cases:
1. Degenerate Ellipse - If the cutting plane passes through the vertex,
perpendicular to the cone axis.
2. Degenerate Parabola - If the plane cuts through a side of the cone
through the vertex.
3. Degenerate Hyperbola - If the cutting plane passes through the
cone axis containing the vertex and two sides of the cone.
Conics in the Coordinate Plane general form:
Ax² + By² + Cxy + Dx + Ey + F = 0, where A and B are not both 0.
Assuming that C = 0 except for the circle.
The Circle
Circle
a. the most common conic found in nature
b. one of the simplest mathematical curves
c. set of all points (x,y) in the plane whose distance from a fixed point
is a constant
Center – fixed point
Radius – distance from the center
Center at the Origin
r =√ ( x−0 ) + ( y−0 )
2 2
r =√ x 2 + y 2
Squaring both sides, x 2+ y 2=r 2
General form of the equation of Center whose center is at the
origin: Ax2 + By2 + E=0
Where A ≠ B ,and B have the same sign.
Center at Point C (h, k)
r =√ ( x−h ) + ( y−k )
2 2
Squaring both sides, (x−h)2 +( y−k )2=r 2 – also the standard form
The Ellipse
Ellipse
a. most common geometric figure in nature next to the circle.
b. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) discovered that the orbit of a planet
around the sun is an ellipse with the sun as one of the foci.
c. set of all points (x,y) in a plane whose distance from two fixed
points in the plane gives a constant sum.
Focus (Foci) – two fixed points
Principal Axis – line that passes through these points.
1) Center: The midpoint between the two foci of the ellipse.
2) Vertices: The points where the curve intersects the principal (or
major) axis.
3) Conjugate Axis: The line perpendicular to the principal axis at the
center of the ellipse.
4) Intercepts: The points where the curve intersects the conjugate axis
Standard form of the equation of Ellipse whose center is at the
origin:
2 2
x y
2
+ 2 =1
a b
Where a and b are positive and a ≠ b .
When the Principal Axis is the X – axis
Constant sum of the distances from any point : 2a
Foci : (c , 0) and (-c , 0)
Vertices : (a , 0) and (-a , 0)
Y - intercepts : (0 , b) and (0 , -b)
When the Principal Axis is the Y – axis
Constant sum of the distances from any point : 2b
Foci : (0 , c) and (0 , -c)
Vertices : (0 , b) and (0 , -b)
Y - intercepts : (a , 0) and (-a , 0)
2 2 2
b =a +c
2 2 2
a =b −c
2 2 2
c =b −a
The Eccentricity of the Ellipse
Eccentricity - defined as the ratio of the center-to-focus distance (c) to the center-to-vertex
distance (a):
c
e=
a
c= √ a −b , where a > b
2 2
The Parabola
Parabola
a. Set of all points (x, y) in a plane whose distance from a
fixed point is equal to the distance from a fixed line.
Focus – fixed point
Directrix – fixed line
1. Principal Axis: The line passing through the focus and perpendicular
to the directrix.
2. Vertex: The point where the parabola intersects its principal axis,
located midway between the focus and the directrix.
3. Latus Rectum (Focal Width): A line segment through the focus,
perpendicular to the principal axis, connecting two points on the
parabola.
4. No Center: A parabola does not have a center, unlike ellipses or
circles.
5. Symmetry: The parabola is symmetric about its principal axis.
Formula:
A and B are points on the parabola with x-coordinate c and their distance from
the directrix is |2 c|. Their distance from the focus F is also |2 c|. Therefore, the
coordinates of A and B are A(c, 2c) and B(c, -2c).