Described by a set of points in the plane for which the sum of distances from two fixed points (called foci F, F') is constant.
\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1
Foci are located at:
\begin{cases} (\pm c, 0) & \text{if} & a > b \\ (0, \pm c) & \text{if} & a < b \\ \end{cases}
Where c = \sqrt{|a^2 - b^2|}
Described by a set of points in the plane for which the difference of distances from two fixed points (called foci F, F') is constant.
Let c = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}
\frac{x^2}{a^2} - \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1
(\pm c, 0)
\frac{y^2}{b^2} - \frac{x^2}{a^2} = 1
(0, \pm c)
Described by a set of points in the plane for which the distances from a fixed point (called focus) and a fixed line (called the directrix) are equal.
x = \frac{1}{4c}y^2
F = (c, 0)
Directrix: x = -c
y = \frac{1}{4c}x^2
F = (0, c)
Directrix: y = -c