Day 3 Math Text Set
Text 1
Conic sections come into our story because each of them is described by a quadratic equation. In particular, if (x, y represents a point on each curve, then a quadratic equation links x and y. We have:
The circle: x2 + y2 = 1;
The ellipse: ax2 + by2 = 1;
The hyperbola: ax2 − by2 = 1;
The parabola: ax2 = y;
These curves were known and studied since the Greeks, but apart from the circle they did not seem to have any practical application. However, as we shall see in the next issue of Plus, a link between quadratic equations and conics, coupled with a mighty lucky fluke, led to an understanding of the way that the universe worked, and in the 16th century the time came for conics to change the world.
Excerpted from “101 uses of a quadratic equation: Part I” by Chris Budd and Chris Sangwin. Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://plus.maths.org/issue29/features/quadratic/indexgifd.html
Text 2
I was surprised to see only two graphs: a line and a curve.
- What happened?
- Which equations go with which graphs?
Text 3
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