Recognizing conic sections

The  exercise appears under the Algebra II Math Mission. This exercise helps in recognizing conic sections by looking at their graphs.

Types of Problems
There is one type of problem in this exercise:


 * 1) Identify a conic section - A graph of a conic section is given and the student is expected to recognize it and select the correct one in the options given to the right.

Strategies
Knowledge of how the four conic sections look like is the key to doing this exercise accurately and efficiently.
 * 1) A circle is a shape which is perfectly round and all points in its circumference are equidistant from the center.
 * 2) An ellipse usually looks like a squashed circle. Remember that a circle is an ellipse too - In fact its a special kind of ellipse. Few people hink that there are only, three kinds of conic sections. But Khan Academy considers it to be one.
 * 3) A parabola is u-shaped and symmetrical from the middle. It extends forever on both sides
 * 4) A hyperbola is two different curves in a mirror images and the curves are also u-shaped on each side.

Real-life Applications

 * 1) The paths of the planets around the sun are ellipses with the sun at one focus
 * 2) Solar ovens use parabolic mirrors to converge light beams to use for heating
 * 3) The parabola is used in the design of car headlights and in spotlights because it aids in concentrating the light beam
 * 4) Some astronomical objects take around the sun are hyperbolic (they do not revolve around the sun over and over, they approach, get close then leave in a hyperbolic path)
 * 5) Hyperbolic as well as parabolic mirrors and lenses are used in systems of telescopes