Lesson
1:
What
is a Conic?
By Carly Coffman
Open a
Microsoft Word document and throughout the unit you will be asked to record
insights, formulas, and observations on conics.
First, I want you to label the Word document with the title “Conics” and
type your first and last name and period under the title. Now, in the Word document type what you think
a conic is or might be. Take a guess if
you have never heard of it.
Click on the
following link to begin your exploration of conics: Conic Occurence
Now, open your
Word document and record the answers to the following questions in complete
sentences.
1)
Name some of
the mathematicians that first studied conics.
2)
What are the
three types of conics listed on this webpage?
3)
Give two
examples of applications of each type of conic that are found in the world
around us.
Let’s now
explore the double helix cone that provides us with each conic. Look at each link below. You can move the cone around by clicking the
mouse on the cone and dragging it around.
(Open
the links with Graphing Calculator, also known as NuCalc)
*You
can change the width of the cone by adjusting the value of a.
There are also
special cases, which we call degenerate cases.
Explore the link and then answer each question in your Word document (in
complete sentences).
1)
What will the
intersection of the figures in this exploration form?
2)
What will the
intersection of the figures in this exploration form?
3)
What will the
intersection of the figures in this exploration form?
Next, search the
internet for any places (that you did not list for question #3) where conics
are found. Find at least three more
examples and explain each one. Feel free
to include pictures with your write-up.
On your word
document explain in your own words what a conic is. Mentally, compare this with your first
description of a conic. Was your initial
definition / guess correct?
Once you are
finished, double check to make sure your name is on your Word document. Print this document and keep it in your
notebook. You will create documents
throughout the unit and at the end of the unit I will assess these documents in
a portfolio you create with them.
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