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Diagram showing how to construct a conic when given the focus and the auxiliary circle. If the focus is outside the circle, we get a hyperbola. If it's inside the circle, we get an ellipse. If the auxiliary circle is a straight line (radius is infinite), we get a parabola.

Construction of a Conic

Diagram showing how to construct a conic when given the focus and the auxiliary circle. If the focus…

Diagram showing how to construct a conic when given the focus and the auxiliary circle. The focus is on the left of the auxiliary circle, thus producing a very obtuse hyperbola.

Focus In Auxiliary Circle of Conic

Diagram showing how to construct a conic when given the focus and the auxiliary circle. The focus is…

Diagram showing how to construct a conic when given the focus and the auxiliary circle. As the focus moves inside the circle the ellipse broadens out until the focus reaches the center and becomes a circle.

Focus In Auxiliary Circle of Conic

Diagram showing how to construct a conic when given the focus and the auxiliary circle. As the focus…

Illustration of an ellipse with major and minor axes, foci, and points on the ellipse. "An ellipse is a plane figure bounded by a curved line, to any point of which the sum of the distances from two fixed points within, called the foci, is equal to the sum of the distances from the foci to any other point on the curve."

Ellipse

Illustration of an ellipse with major and minor axes, foci, and points on the ellipse. "An ellipse is…

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "The ordinates of two corresponding points in an ellipse and its auxiliary circle are in the ratio b:a."

Corresponding Points in an Ellipse and Circle

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "The ordinates of two corresponding points in an ellipse and its…

Illustration showing that if one diameter is conjugate to a second, the second is conjugate to the first.

Conjugate Diameters of an Ellipse

Illustration showing that if one diameter is conjugate to a second, the second is conjugate to the first.

Illustration of half of an ellipse and its auxiliary circle used to construct an ellipse by points, having given its two axes.

Construction of an Ellipse

Illustration of half of an ellipse and its auxiliary circle used to construct an ellipse by points,…

Diagram showing how to construct an ellipse when given the two foci and the length of the major axis (2a).

Construction of an Ellipse

Diagram showing how to construct an ellipse when given the two foci and the length of the major axis…

Diagram of an ellipse that can used to illustrate the definition. "The constant ration between the distances of a point on an ellipse from the focus and the directrix equals the linear eccentricity divided by the semi major axis."

Definition of Ellipse

Diagram of an ellipse that can used to illustrate the definition. "The constant ration between the distances…

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse. "An ellipse is a curve which is the locus of a point that moves in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two fixed points in the plane is constant." The foci and major axis is drawn.

Demonstration of Ellipse Definition

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse. "An ellipse is a curve which is the locus of a point…

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "If d denotes the abscissa of a point of an ellipse, r and r' its focal radii, then r'=a+ed, r=a-ed."

Focal Radii of an Ellipse

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "If d denotes the abscissa of a point of an ellipse, r and r' its…

Diagram that illustrates "The algebraic sum of the distances of any point from the foci of a conic is greater or less than 2a, according as the point is without or within the curve."

Foci Distances on an Ellipse

Diagram that illustrates "The algebraic sum of the distances of any point from the foci of a conic is…

A graph of tan ellipse with Foci and Center.

Graph of Ellipse with Foci and Center Labeled

A graph of tan ellipse with Foci and Center.

Illustration of an ellipse with foci F' and F, major axis A' to A, minor axis B' to B, and center O.

Ellipse With Parts Labeled

Illustration of an ellipse with foci F' and F, major axis A' to A, minor axis B' to B, and center O.

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "If through a point P of an ellipse a line is drawn bisecting the angle between one of the focal radii and the other produced, every point in this line except P is without the curve."

Line Bisecting Angle Between Focal Radii on Ellipse

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "If through a point P of an ellipse a line is drawn bisecting the…

Illustration of half of an ellipse. The square of the ordinate of a point in an ellipse is to the product of the segments of the major axis made by the ordinate as the square of b to the square of a.

Ordinate and Major Axis of Ellipse

Illustration of half of an ellipse. The square of the ordinate of a point in an ellipse is to the product…

Illustration showing that tangents drawn at the ends of any diameter are parallel to each other.

Parallel Tangents to an Ellipse

Illustration showing that tangents drawn at the ends of any diameter are parallel to each other.

Illustration of ellipse with parts labeled.

Ellipse With Parts Labeled

Illustration of ellipse with parts labeled.

Diagram of an ellipse that can used to illustrate the different parts. Segment MN is the major axis, segment CD is the conjugate (minor) axis, and point O is the center of the ellipse. Both foci are also labeled in the illustration.

Parts of Ellipse

Diagram of an ellipse that can used to illustrate the different parts. Segment MN is the major axis,…

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "The sum of the distances of any point from the foci of an ellipse is greater than or less than 2a, according as the point is without or within the curve."

Point Distances to Foci on Ellipse

Illustration of half of an ellipse. "The sum of the distances of any point from the foci of an ellipse…

Illustration of how to draw a tangent to an ellipse from an external point.

Tangent From External Point to an Ellipse

Illustration of how to draw a tangent to an ellipse from an external point.

Diagram an ellipse with a tangent line that illustrates "A line through a point on the ellipse and bisecting the external angle between the focal radii is a tangent."

Tangent to an Ellipse

Diagram an ellipse with a tangent line that illustrates "A line through a point on the ellipse and bisecting…

Illustration showing the tangents drawn at two corresponding points of an ellipse and its auxiliary circle cut the major axis produced at the same point.

Tangents to an Ellipse

Illustration showing the tangents drawn at two corresponding points of an ellipse and its auxiliary…

Illustration of a hyperbola and its auxiliary circle. "Any ordinate of a hyperbola is to the tangent from its foot to the auxiliary circle as b is to a."

Auxiliary Circle and Hyperbola

Illustration of a hyperbola and its auxiliary circle. "Any ordinate of a hyperbola is to the tangent…

Diagram depicting a cone with both nappes intersected by plane J to form a hyperbola.

Cone Intersected by a Plane to Form a Hyperbola

Diagram depicting a cone with both nappes intersected by plane J to form a hyperbola.

Illustration showing how the a hyperbola is symmetrical with respect to its conjugate axis.

Conjugate Axis of a Hyperbola

Illustration showing how the a hyperbola is symmetrical with respect to its conjugate axis.

Illustration showing how a hyperbola con be constructed by points, having been given the foci and the constant difference 2a.

Construction of Hyperbola

Illustration showing how a hyperbola con be constructed by points, having been given the foci and the…

Diagram showing how to construct a hyperbola when given the two foci and the length of the major axis (2a).

Construction of a Hyperbola

Diagram showing how to construct a hyperbola when given the two foci and the length of the major axis…

Illustration showing the definition of an hyperbola. "An hyperbola may be described by the continuous motion of a point, as follows: To one of the foci F' fasten one end of a rigid bar F'B so that it is capable of turning freely about F' as a center in the plane of the paper."

Demonstration of Hyperbola Definition

Illustration showing the definition of an hyperbola. "An hyperbola may be described by the continuous…

Illustration of a hyperbola with distances to foci drawn. "The difference of the distances of any point from the foci of an hyperbola is greater than or less than 2a, according as the point is on the concave or convex side of the curve."

Foci Distance of Hyperbola

Illustration of a hyperbola with distances to foci drawn. "The difference of the distances of any point…

Illustration of a hyperbola with a line bisecting the focal radii. "If through a point P of an hyperbola a line is drawn bisecting the angle between the focal radii, every point in this line except P is on the convex side of the curve.

Line Bisecting Angle Between Focal Radii in Hyperbola

Illustration of a hyperbola with a line bisecting the focal radii. "If through a point P of an hyperbola…

Illustration of a point on a hyperbola. "If d denotes the abscissa (x-coordinate) of a point of an hyperbola, r and r' its focal radii, then r = ed - a, and r' = ed + a."

Point on a Hyperbola

Illustration of a point on a hyperbola. "If d denotes the abscissa (x-coordinate) of a point of an hyperbola,…

Illustration showing how to draw a tangent to an hyperbola from a given point P on the convex side of the hyperbola.

Tangent to Hyperbola

Illustration showing how to draw a tangent to an hyperbola from a given point P on the convex side of…

Diagram part of a hyperbola with a tangent line that illustrates "A line through a point on the hyperbola and bisecting the internal angle between the focal radii is a tangent."

Tangent to a Hyperbola

Diagram part of a hyperbola with a tangent line that illustrates "A line through a point on the hyperbola…

The lines joining any point on a conic to the two foci are equally inclined to the tangent and normal at that point. This is an ellipse.

Conic Foci Involution

The lines joining any point on a conic to the two foci are equally inclined to the tangent and normal…

"The foci of concave mirrors may be in front of the mirror, in which case they are real; or they may be behind teh mirror, in which case they are virtual." -Avery 1895

Foci of Concave Mirror

"The foci of concave mirrors may be in front of the mirror, in which case they are real; or they may…

"A convex mirror is generally a part of the other surface of a spherical shell. It increases the divergence, or decreases the convergence of light that falls upon it. The foci are virtual; the principal focus is midway between the center of the mirror and the center of curvature. The foci may be located and the images determined by processes closely similar to those used for concave mirrors, as illustrated." -Avery 1895

Convex Mirror

"A convex mirror is generally a part of the other surface of a spherical shell. It increases the divergence,…

The segments between the point of intersection of two tangents to a conic and their points of contact are seen from a focus under equal angles. the ratio of the distances of any point on a conic from a focus and the corresponding directrix is constant.

Parabola Foci Properties

The segments between the point of intersection of two tangents to a conic and their points of contact…