Conic Sections - The Parabola

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On an (x, y) graph a parabola can have the shape to the left.

If a plane intersects the cone when it is slanted the same as the side of the cone, (formally, when it is parallel to the slant height), the conic section is a parabola. This is shown to the left.

Here is a VRML animation that shows several possibilities for forming a parabola by intersecting a cone and a plane. (For help with VRML go here.)

VRML

Full screen version

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