Examples for

Conic Sections

Conic sections are curves formed by intersecting a cone and a plane. These curves include circles, ellipses, parabolas and hyperbolas. Wolfram|Alpha can identify a conic section by its equation and can also compute the equation or other properties for a given conic section of a specified type.

Conics

Find information about a conic section through its Cartesian equation.

Plot a conic section and identify its type:

Ellipses

Find an ellipse and compute its properties.

Compute properties of an ellipse:

Specify an ellipse by its equation:

Compute the eccentricity of an ellipse:

Compute the focal parameter of an ellipse:

Circles

Find a circle and compute its properties.

Compute properties of a circle:

Find a circle passing through three points:

Compute the circumference of a circle:

Parabolas

Find a parabola and compute its properties.

Compute properties of a parabola:

Compute the directrix of a parabola:

RELATED EXAMPLES

  • Plane Geometry
  • Hyperbolas

    Find a hyperbola and compute its properties.

    Compute properties of a hyperbola:

    Locate the foci of a hyperbola: