Conic Sections

Conic sections are shapes created by slicing a cone at different angles. Depending on where and how the cone is cut—parallel, perpendicular, or skew to its base—you can get circles, ellipses, parabolas, or hyperbolas. These curves appear in various real-world contexts, such as satellite dishes (parabolas), elliptical tracks (ellipses), and headlights (ellipses). They are fundamental in mathematics and science for describing trajectories, orbits, and reflective properties. Their study helps us understand how different forms emerge from simple geometric operations and how they can be applied in technology and natural phenomena.