David Drew
Homepage for EMAT 6890
An Introduction and Exploration into the Conic
Sections
This webpage
is a tool for the sole purpose of exploring the nature, ideas, and components
of conic sections. After taking an introduction to conic sections taught by Dr.
Andrew Iszak I’ve become fascinated with this area of mathematics. And through
this exploration I hope to learn much more about conic sections in the actual
world that we live in rather than the world on paper and inside equations. As a
warning let me say that this is a work in progress and although it has some
investigations on the conic sections it has not exhausted my curiosity by any
means. I hope to keep adding to this after this semester (Spring 2004) is over.
As of right now this webpage is a building block for teaching high school
students the nature of conics. The ellipse is discussed and emphasized in great
detail since I feel the most comfortable with its properties. There are lesson
plans and there will be both assignments designed for the high school block
schedule, and homework assignments that are challenging but enjoyable. The age
and time frame for this exposition is for high school seniors in their last
semester before they leave for college and the duration will be anywhere from
An Introduction to Conic Sections