11

Pre-Calculus
Quarter 1 – Module 1:

CONCEPTS OF CONIC SECTIONS

 Lesson
Illustrate the different types of conic sections: parabola,
1 ellipse, circle, hyperbola, and degenerate cases

Learning Objectives

Describe the parts of a conic section and how conic sections can be thought of as cross-sections of a
double-cone

What Are Conic Sections?

Conic sections are obtained by the intersection of the surface of a cone with a plane, and have certain
features.

The Four Conic Sections

Conic sections are formed on a plane when that plane slices through the edge of one or both of a pair of
right circular cones stacked tip to tip. Whether the result is a circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola
depends only upon the angle at which the plane slices through. Conic sections are described
mathematically by quadratic equations—some of which contain more than one variable.

When the edge of a single or stacked pair of right circular cones is sliced by a plane, the curved cross
section formed by the plane and cone is called a conic section. The four main conic sections are the
circle, the parabola, the ellipse, and the hyperbola (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Creating conic sections.

 Key Takeaways

Key Points

 A conic section (or simply conic) is a curve obtained as the intersection of the surface of a
cone with a plane; the three types are parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.

 A conic section can be graphed on a coordinate plane.

 Every conic section has certain features, including at least one focus and directrix. Parabolas
have one focus and directrix, while ellipses and hyperbolas have two of each.

 A conic section is the set of points P whose distance to the focus is a constant multiple of the
distance from P to the directrix of the conic.

Key Terms

 Vertex: An extreme point on a conic section.

 Asymptote: A straight line which a curve approaches arbitrarily closely as it goes to infinity.

 Locus: The set of all points whose coordinates satisfy a given equation or condition.

 Focus: A point used to construct and define a conic section, at which rays reflected from the
curve converge (plural: foci).

 Nappe: One half of a double cone.

 Conic section: Any curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a cone of two nappes.

 Directrix: A line used to construct and define a conic section; a parabola has one directrix;
ellipses and hyperbolas have two (plural: directrices).
Defining Conic Sections

A conic section (or simply conic) is a curve obtained as the intersection of the surface of a cone with a
plane. The three types of conic sections are the hyperbola, the parabola, and the ellipse. The circle is
type of ellipse, and is sometimes considered to be a fourth type of conic section.

Conic sections can be generated by intersecting a plane with a cone. A cone has two identically shaped
parts called nappes. One nappe is what most people mean by “cone,” and has the shape of a party hat.

Conic sections are generated by the intersection of a plane with a cone. If the plane is parallel to the axis
of revolution (the y -axis), then the conic section is a hyperbola. If the plane is parallel to the generating
line, the conic section is a parabola. If the plane is perpendicular to the axis of revolution, the conic
section is a circle. If the plane intersects one nappe at an angle to the axis (other than 90∘), then the
conic section is an ellipse.