University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
University of Saskatchewan: Circles and Other Conics
Gives brief description and standard equations for the four conic sections. Includes pictures, examples, and practice problems.
Wolfram Research
Wolfram Mathworld: Conic Section Directrix
Explains how the directrix relates to the three conic sections: parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. Includes a definition, formulas, and links to related topics.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: Practice Problems: Translations of Conics
Eighteen problems offer practice working with translations of conics. They are given with each step to the solution cleverly revealed one at a time. You can work each step of the problem then click the "View Solution" button to check...
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: Conic Sections
Students can investigate the graphs of conic sections in standard form. Cirlce, ellipse, and hyperbola graphs are included.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: General Form for Conic Sections
Students investigate the general form of the equation for a conic section. This interactive tool evaluates the changes that occur from using different coefficients in the equation.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Analysis: Parabolas and Analytic Geometry
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this lesson students gain an understanding of parabolas using analytic geometry, by exploring guided notes, watching a video and attempting practice problems.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Conics: Circles
In this study of conics, students will examine the derivation of equations for circles. There are two general equations for circles. The first is a circle whose center is at the origin, while the second is a circle whose center is not at...
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Analytic Geometry: Polar Coordinates
This site from The Math Forum provides great information on polar coordinates. You can access this information either by clicking on the coordinates link or just scrolling down, it is the first one listed on the page. Includes several...
Purple Math
Purplemath: Completing the Square: Finding the Vertex
Demonstrates step-by-step how to complete the square to find the vertex of a parabola. Thorough descriptions of each problem.
Purple Math
Purplemath: Conics: An Overview
Introduces the basics of conics in algebra, including a flow-chart for determining which sort of conic is represented by a given equation.
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Contributions of Apollonius
This site, provided by the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, describes the contributions of Apollonius of Perga.
Integrated Publishing
Web Algebra: The Ellipse
A lengthy example on how to formulate the equation of an ellipse.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Conic Sections: Playing With Hyperbolas
Through a mixture of online exploration, and teacher instruction, students will discover how Hyberbolas are formed and will be able to use the key components (center, vertices and the asymptotes) to generate the equation of a graph.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Ellipse
This lesson plan is designed for an Algebra II through Pre-Calculus classes and introduces the conic section- an ellipse. In this lesson plan students explore an ellipse, the set of points in a plane such that the sum of the distances...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Precalculus Concepts 2.0
A complete high school Precalculus Concepts course. Includes 'Related Modalities' for each lesson that teach the same concept in different ways. The text materials follows Algebra II and comes before Calculus or Statistics. The content...
Richland Community College
Richland Community College: Math 116 Lecture Notes
This site from the Richland Community College provides the detailed lecture notes to a college algebra course, complete with equations and definitions. Content ranges from "functions and their graphs" to "conics and parametric equations."
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Conic Basics
A written description of the different conic sections is described at this site from the Math Forum. The description identifies the importance of the eccentricity in determining the type of conic.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Everyday Appearances of Conics
Just getting started with conics and you need some examples of where they occur? Check out Dr. Math's reply to such a question.
Math Words
Math words.com: Conic Sections
Examples of conic sections are given and the equation for their standard form is also given.
Math Words
Math words.com: Hyperbola
A definition for what a hyperbola is along with example diagrams of what horizontal and vertical hyperbolas are and gives the standard form equation.
Purple Math
Purplemath: Conics: Circles: Introduction & Drawing
A reference site that gives definitions, examples, explanation of circle attributes and drawing circles in a coordinate plane.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Foci of an Ellipse
The question, "If the major and minor axis of an ellipse are given, how do I find the focus points?" is answered at the Math Forum.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Equations of Conics
Posed with a student question about equations of conics, Dr. Math provides some insight on the standard form of parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. One example is shown.
Math Words
Math Words: Degenerate Conic Sections
A brief definition of what degenerate conic sections are along with a picture.