parábola

A parábola is a symmetrical, U-shaped curve that results from the intersection of a plane with a cone. In mathematics, it is described as the set of all points equidistant from a fixed point called the focus and a fixed line called the directrix. Parabolas frequently appear in physics, engineering, and nature—for example, in the path of projectiles under gravity or the shape of satellite dishes. They can be expressed with a quadratic equation and have a single line of symmetry, making them useful in applications requiring focused reflection or optimal paths.