LESSON 1

INTRODUCTION TO CONIC SECTIONS

Target:

At the end of the lesson, you

should be able to:

differentiate conic sections Search for pictures of the four conic sections that can be seen in our
from each other through a surroundings. Each conic section must have at least 3 pictures. Using
picture collage;
any photo editing application in your phone, compile the pictures
trace the history of the that you collected.
development of the conic
sections;

gain understanding on how

each conic section was
formed by cutting cones; and

list down the real life

application of the conic
sections.

Conic sections are among the oldest curves, and oldest math subject
studied systematically and thoroughly. The conics seem to have been
discovered by Menaechmus (a Greek, ~375 BC – 325 BC), tutor to
Alexander the Great. They were conceived in an attempt to solve the three
famous problems of trisecting the angle, duplicating the cube, and
squaring the circle. The conics were first defined as the intersection of: a
right circular cone of varying vertex angle; a plane perpendicular to a
element of the cone. (An element of a cone is any line that makes up the
cone). Depending on the angle if is less than, equal to, or greater than 90
degrees, we get ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola respectively. Appollonius
(~262 BC to 190 BC) (known as The Great Geometer) consolidated and
extended previous results of conics into a monograph Conic Sections,
consisting of eight books with 487 propositions.
Source:http://xahlee.info/SpecialPlaneCurves_dir/ConicSections_dir/conicSections.h
tml#:~:text=The%20conics%20seems%20to%20have,cube%2C%20and%20squaring
%20the%20circle.
Let us learn more
about the history of
conic sections. Let us
see how ancient
mathematicians came
up with the concepts,
properties and varied
applications that we
are using in different
field nowadays. Write
down the proponents
and their significant
contribution in the
development of the
conic sections. Geogebra.org

Scan the QR code to The following cones were made by cutting the double napped cones
view the video or go using a plane.
to
 Circle – when the plane is horizontal to the base of the cone
http://www.youtube.
com/watch?  Ellipse – when the (tilted) plane intersects only one cone to form a
v=rBD2bnsgFrc bounded curve
 Parabola – when the plane intersects only one cone to form an
unbounded curve

 Hyperbola – when the plane (not necessary vertical) intersects both

cones to form to unbounded curves (each called a branch of the
hyperbola)
 Point – when the plane cuts the vertex of the cone
 Line – when the planes cuts through the vertex but only touches the
cones
 Two lines – when the plane cuts through the vertex and pass through
inside the cones.
Why is it that some
objects/ things around
us were designed
using a specific conic
section? Is it possible
to redesign it to other
shapes?
Read and answer the following questions. Make sure to cite at least three (3)
examples in your answer. (10 points each)

1. What made the ancient mathematicians came up with the discovery of conic
sections?

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2. How conic sections (including degenerate sections) impacted the current

condition of our society nowadays?

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Form four groups in your section. Each group is assigned with a conic section. In
each group, individually create a virtual display board on real life application of
conic section assigned to you. Each member of you group must not have a similar
answer with the others. You may use Microsoft word or publisher in creating
your output.