Types of Conic Sections: Circle Ellipse Parabola Hyperbola

Center It is the point (h, k) at the

center of a circle, or an ellipse, or an hyperbola

Vertex For Parabola, it is the point at

the end of the parabola For Hyperbola, it is the

turning point of a branch of a hyperbola

Focus It is the point from which

distances are measured in forming a conic

A place where the distance-lines converges

Directrix It is the line from which

distances are measured in forming a conic

Linear Eccentricity It is the distance between the

center and the focus (or one of the two foci)

Focal Parameter It is the distance between the

focus (or one of the foci) and the directrix

Locus A set of points satisfying

some condition or set of conditions

Axis of Symmetry A line perpendicular to the

directrix passing through the vertex of a parabola