conic sections
The four curves - circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas. They are called conic sections because they can be formed by intersecting a right circular cone with a plane.

When the plane is perpendicular to the axis of the cone, the resulting intersection is a circle. When the plane is slightly tilted, the result is an ellipse. When the plane is parallel to the side (one element) of the cone, it produces a parabola. When the plane cuts both extensions of the cone, it yields a hyperbola.


Related Terms: axis (in solid geometry), circle, ellipse, hyperbola, parabola


 
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