A parabola is an open 1-dimensional (1D) surface produced by finding the set of points around a focus point and a line known as a directrix, where the distances between a point on the parabola and the focus point; and the shortest distance between same point on the parabola and the directrix are equal. The distance between the point and the directrix creates a right angle with the directrix and is parallel to the bisector of the parabola.
As a parabola is curved, it is often represented embedded in a plane.
A parabola can also be defined as a graph to a quadratic equation such as .
A 1-dimensional shape created bounded by two points on a parabola is called a parabolic segment.
A 2-dimensional shape bounded by a segment of a parabola and a line segment known as a latus rectum is called a parabolic sector.
A parabola is an example of a conic section drawn on a plane that divides a nappe, and creates a parabolic sector within a cone created from the nappe. This plane is put at an angle where it intersects with the base.
Structure and Sections[]
Hypervolumes[]
- vertex count =
- edge length =
Subfacets[]
- 1 parabola (1D)
Equations[]
All points on the surface of a parabola (embedded in a Euclidean plane) can be given by a quadratic equation in the form .
See Also[]
| Conic Sections |
|---|
| Circle · Ellipse · Parabola · Hyperbola |