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Illustration showing the definition of a circle as a conic section. The section of a right circular cone made by a plane that is perpendicular to the axis (or parallel to the base).

Conic Section Showing A Circle

Illustration showing the definition of a circle as a conic section. The section of a right circular…

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a cone. The cone is intersected by a plane parallel to the base, forming a circle.

Conic Section Showing A Circle

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a cone. The cone is intersected by a plane parallel…

Illustration showing the intersection of a plane with a cone.

Intersection Of A Plane And Cone

Illustration showing the intersection of a plane with a cone.

Illustration showing the intersection of a plane with a cone. The solid is shown in perspective and the triangles that are to be located in the projections are represented in the drawing.

Intersection Of A Plane And Cone

Illustration showing the intersection of a plane with a cone. The solid is shown in perspective and…

Illustration showing a cone cut by a plane that is along the axis of symmetry.

Plane Passing Through A Cone

Illustration showing a cone cut by a plane that is along the axis of symmetry.

Conjugate diameters perpendicular to each other are called, axes, and the points where they cut the curve vertices of the conic.

Conic Axes

Conjugate diameters perpendicular to each other are called, axes, and the points where they cut the…

The lines which join corresponding points in an involution on a conic all pass through a fixed point; and reciprocally, the points of intersection of conjugate lines in an involution among tangents to a conic lie on a line.

Conic Involution

The lines which join corresponding points in an involution on a conic all pass through a fixed point;…

Diagram of a cone with spheres and cut by a plane to depict the conic sections.

Cone depicting Conic Sections

Diagram of a cone with spheres and cut by a plane to depict the conic sections.

One of the three species of conic sections is the ellipse.

Ellipse

One of the three species of conic sections is the ellipse.

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 used to draw a an ellipse using string and pins by describing a circles with diameters equal to the minor and major axes of the ellipse.

Construction of Ellipse by Describing Circles

Illustration used to draw a an ellipse using string and pins by describing a circles with diameters…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse parallel to two parallel lines A and B. "Draw a semicircle on AB, draw ordinates in the circle at right angle to AB, the corresponding and equal ordinates for the ellipse to be drawn parallel to the lines, and thus the elliptic curve is obtained as shown by the figure."

Construction Of An Ellipse Tangent To Two Parallel Lines

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse parallel to two parallel lines A and B. "Draw a…

Illustration used to draw a an ellipse using string and pins.

Construction of Ellipse Using String

Illustration used to draw a an ellipse using string and pins.

Illustration of half of an ellipse used to show that the area of an ellipse is equal to pi times a times b.

Area of an Ellipse

Illustration of half of an ellipse used to show that the area of an ellipse is equal to pi times a times…

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse as a conic section. "The section of a right circular cone made by a plane that cuts all the elements of the surface of the cone is an ellipse."

Conic Section Showing an Ellipse

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse as a conic section. "The section of a right circular…

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse as a conic section. "The section of a right circular cone made by a plane that cuts all the elements of the surface of the cone is an ellipse."

Conic Section Showing an Ellipse

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse as a conic section. "The section of a right circular…

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse as a conic section. The section of a right circular cone made by a plane that cuts all the elements of the surface of the cone is an ellipse. The plane is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the axis.

Conic Section Showing An Ellipse

Illustration showing the definition of an ellipse as a conic section. The section of a right circular…

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a cone. The cone is intersected by a plane neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the base, nor parallel to a side. Thus forming an ellipse.

Conic Section Showing An Ellipse

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a cone. The cone is intersected by a plane neither…

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,…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. "With a as a center, draw two concentric circles with diameters equal to the long and short axes of the desired ellipse. Draw from o any number of radii, A, B, etc. Draw a line Bb' parallel to n and bb' parallel to m, then b is a point in the desired ellipse.

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. "With a as a center, draw two concentric circles…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using a string. "Having given the two axes, set off from c half the great axis at a and b, which are the two focuses of the ellipse. Take an endless string as long as the three sides in the triangle abc, fix two pins or nails in the focuses, one in a and one in b, lay the string around a and b, stretch it with a pencil d, which then will describe the desired ellipse."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using a string. "Having given the two axes, set…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Divide the long axis into three equal parts, draw the two circles, and where they intersect one another are the centers for the tangent arcs of the ellipses as shown by the figure."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Divide the long axis into three…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Given the two axes, set off the short axis from A to b, divide b into three equal parts, set off two of these parts from o towards c and c which are the centers for the ends of the ellipse. Make equilateral triangles on cc, when ee will be the centers for the sides of the ellipse. If the long axis is more than twice the short one, this construction will not make a good ellipse."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Given the two axes, set off…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. Given the two axes, set off half the long axis from c to ff, which will be the two focuses in the ellipse. Divide the long axis into any number of parts, say a to be a division point. Take Aa as radius and f as center and describe a circle arc about b, take aB as radius and f as center describe another circle arc about b, then the intersection b is a point in the ellipse, and so the whole ellipse can be constructed."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. Given the two axes, set off half the long axis…

Illustration used to show how to draw an ellipse when given the diameters.

Construction Of Ellipse

Illustration used to show how to draw an ellipse when given the diameters.

Illustration used to show how to draw an ellipse by circular arcs.

Construction Of Ellipse

Illustration used to show how to draw an ellipse by circular arcs.

Illustration used to draw a an ellipse with major axis AB and minor axis CD.

Construction of Ellipse

Illustration used to draw a an ellipse with major axis AB and minor axis CD.

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…

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 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.

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…

A gyroscope that is rotated to form an ellipse.

Gyroscope

A gyroscope that is rotated to form an ellipse.

Illustration showing the asymptotes of a hyperbola. The asymptotes will never meet the curve.

Asymptotes of a Hyperbola

Illustration showing the asymptotes of a hyperbola. The asymptotes will never meet the curve.

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…

Illustration showing the definition of an hyperbola as a conic section. "The section of a right circular cone made by a plane that cuts both nappes of the cone is a hyperbola." A double right circular cone with a plane parallel to the axis cutting through the cones.

Conic Section Showing an Hyperbola

Illustration showing the definition of an hyperbola as a conic section. "The section of a right circular…

Illustration showing the definition of an hyperbola as a conic section. A hyperbola is formed from a double right circular cone with a plane parallel to the axis cutting through the cones.

Conic Section Showing A Hyperbola

Illustration showing the definition of an hyperbola as a conic section. A hyperbola is formed from a…

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a double cone. The cone is intersected by a plane parallel to the axis. Thus forming a Hyperbola.

Conic Section Showing A Hyperbola

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a double cone. The cone is intersected by a…

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…

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…

All triangles formed by a tangent and the asymptotes of an hyperbola are equal in area.

Hyperbola Tangent Triangles

All triangles formed by a tangent and the asymptotes of an hyperbola are equal in area.

Illustration used to show how to draw an egg-shaped oval when given the diameters.

Construction Of Oval

Illustration used to show how to draw an egg-shaped oval when given the diameters.

Illustration showing the definition of a parabola as a conic section. "The section of a right circular cone made by a plane parallel to one, and only one, element of the surface is a parabola."

Conic Section Showing Parabola

Illustration showing the definition of a parabola as a conic section. "The section of a right circular…

Illustration showing the definition of a parabola as a conic section. "The section of a right circular cone made by a plane parallel to one, and only one, element of the surface is a parabola."

Conic Section Showing Parabola

Illustration showing the definition of a parabola as a conic section. "The section of a right circular…

Illustration showing the definition of a parabola as a conic section. The section of a right circular cone made by a plane parallel to one, and only one, element of the surface is a parabola.

Conic Section Showing A Parabola

Illustration showing the definition of a parabola as a conic section. The section of a right circular…

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a cone. The cone is intersected by a plane parallel to a side. Thus forming a parabola.

Conic Section Showing A Parabola

An illustration showing the intersection of a plane and a cone. The cone is intersected by a plane parallel…

Illustration used to show how to draw a parabola when the axis and longest double ordinate is given.

Construction Of Parabola

Illustration used to show how to draw a parabola when the axis and longest double ordinate is given.

Illustration of a parabola showing that any point of a parabola is the mean proportional between the latus rectum (focal chord) and the abscissa (x-coordinate).

Parabola With Coordinates and Latus Rectum

Illustration of a parabola showing that any point of a parabola is the mean proportional between the…

Illustration of a parabola - a curve which is the locus of a point that moves in a plane so that its distance from a fixed point in the plane is always equal to its distance from a fixed line in the plane.

Parabola With Focus and Directrix

Illustration of a parabola - a curve which is the locus of a point that moves in a plane so that its…

Illustration of a parabola - a curve which is the locus of a point that moves in a plane so that its distance from a fixed point (focus) in the plane is always equal to its distance from a fixed line (directrix) in the plane.

Parabola With Focus and Directrix

Illustration of a parabola - a curve which is the locus of a point that moves in a plane so that its…