Defnition Fof Parabola
Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
1. n. A plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone and a plane parallel to an element of the cone or by the locus of points equidistant from a fixed line and a fixed point not on the line.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
1. n. Same as parabole.
2. n. A curve commonly defined as the intersection of a cone with a Plane parallel with its side. The name is derived from the following property. Let the figure represent the cone. Let ABG be the triangle through the axis of the cone. Let DE be a line perpendicular to this triangle, cutting BG in H. Let the cone be cut by a plane through DE parallel to AG, so that the intersection with the cone will be the curve called the parabola. Let Z be the point where this curve cuts AB. Then the line ZH is called by Apollonius the diameter of the parabola, or the principal diameter, or the diameter from generation; it is now called the axis. From Z draw ZT at right angles to ZH and in the plane of ZH and AB, of such a length as to make ZT: ZA: BG: A B. AG. This line ZT is called the latus rectum; it is now also called the parameter. Now take any point whatever, as K, on the curve. From it draw KL parallel to DE meeting the diameter in L. ZL is called the abscissa. If now, on ZL as a base, we erect a rectangle equal in area to the square on KL, the other side of this rectangle may be precisely superposed upon the latus rectum, ZT. This property constitutes the best practical definition of the parabola. If a similar construction were made in the case of the ellipse, the side of the rectangle would fall short of the latus rectum; in the case of the hyperbola, would surpass it. The modern scientific definition of the parabola is that it is that plane curve of the second order which is tangent to the line at infinity. The parabola is also frequently defined as the curve which is everywhere equally distant from a fixed point called
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
1. n. A plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone and a plane parallel to an element of the cone or by the locus of points equidistant from a fixed line and a fixed point not on the line.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
1. n. Same as parabole.
2. n. A curve commonly defined as the intersection of a cone with a Plane parallel with its side. The name is derived from the following property. Let the figure represent the cone. Let ABG be the triangle through the axis of the cone. Let DE be a line perpendicular to this triangle, cutting BG in H. Let the cone be cut by a plane through DE parallel to AG, so that the intersection with the cone will be the curve called the parabola. Let Z be the point where this curve cuts AB. Then the line ZH is called by Apollonius the diameter of the parabola, or the principal diameter, or the diameter from generation; it is now called the axis. From Z draw ZT at right angles to ZH and in the plane of ZH and AB, of such a length as to make ZT: ZA: BG: A B. AG. This line ZT is called the latus rectum; it is now also called the parameter. Now take any point whatever, as K, on the curve. From it draw KL parallel to DE meeting the diameter in L. ZL is called the abscissa. If now, on ZL as a base, we erect a rectangle equal in area to the square on KL, the other side of this rectangle may be precisely superposed upon the latus rectum, ZT. This property constitutes the best practical definition of the parabola. If a similar construction were made in the case of the ellipse, the side of the rectangle would fall short of the latus rectum; in the case of the hyperbola, would surpass it. The modern scientific definition of the parabola is that it is that plane curve of the second order which is tangent to the line at infinity. The parabola is also frequently defined as the curve which is everywhere equally distant from a fixed point called