National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: The Origins of Conic Sections
Dr. Math, in reply to a student question, gives background information on the origin of conic sections. Links also are included for further information.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Solving Systems With Quadratic Equations: Systems of Conics
In this activity, students will plot the graphs of systems of equations and determine the number of real solutions of the system. Then find the solution of the system algebraically.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Conic Sections
These questions ask students to write the equations of conic sections given a variety of information. Students are also asked to find the foci of an ellipse and the asymptotes of a hyperbola. Solutions and explanations are included.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Conic Equations
This Learn Check file is a review of writing conic sections given the graph of a conic section. Students are asked to use the graphs to write the equations for a ellipse, circle, parabola, and hyperbola.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Conics as a Locus of Points
Students investigate the definition of a parabola through one of its geometric definitions. They study conic sections. They examine an ellipse as a locus of points such that the sum of distances from the foci to the traced path is constant.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Conics
Three Learning Check documents on the various characteristics of parabolas, circles, ellipses, and hyperbolas.
University of Michigan
Virtual Conics
You may have to download first, but the two VRML icons near the bottom of the page allow you to observe the plane intersecting the cone to form the conic. Controls are present to change the angle of the plane and your view of the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Conics and Reflection
Students investigate the reflective properties of the parabola, the ellipse, and the hyperbola. They will look at applications that relate to both the collection of incoming signals and signals that are emitted from a source and...
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Conicas
In Spanish. Learn more about the ellipse, hyperbola and the parabola with these interactive activities.
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Las Conicas
In Spanish. Learn how to distinguish and draw each of the conic sections with these activities.
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Las Conicas
In Spanish. Learn about each of the conic sections with these interactive activities.
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Construccion Geometrica De Las Curvas Conicas
Learn to construct conic curves with these interactive activities.
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Conicas
Learn about the different conic sessions and try the different interactive exercises.
Other
Old Dominion University: Calculus Animations W Mathcad
Explanations and animations of limits, slopes, derivatives, arc length, infinite series, conic sections, cycloids, parametric curves, polar curves, quadric surfaces, and more.
Other
Sierra College: Conics
Provides the locus of points, dominant axis and equation, discriminant, center, vertex, focus, directrix, and asymptotes for the parabola, the ellipse, and the hyperbola.
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Conicas: Esferas De Dandelin
Conics are planar curves obtained by intersecting a cone with a plane. In this unit you will be able to visually interactively the different conic sections.
Other
The Krell Institute: Project: Rotation of Axes
This resource provides an explanation of the equation for rotation of axes with conic sections includes an example with an ellipse.
McGraw Hill
Glencoe: Quiz on the Rectangular and Parametric Form of Conic Sections
The online assessment demonstrates understanding of advanced mathematical concepts in Trigonometry. The questions assess students on the rectangular and parametric form of conic sections.
University of Georgia
University of Georgia: Lessons on Parabolas
Nine lessons on parabolas are presented here. The lessons progress from the basics of parabolas (definition, algebraic representation of parabolas) to more advanced topics (ie. tangents to parabolas, parabolas in polar form).
University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
University of Saskatchewan: Circles and Other Conics
Gives brief description and standard equations for the four conic sections. Includes pictures, examples, and practice problems.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Ellipse or Circle? Parametric Equation
Dr. Math, in reply to a student question, shows how a specific pair of parametric equations produces a circle as opposed to an ellipse.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Equations for Curves Passing Through a Given Set of Points
In this Derive activity, students explore equations of curves which pass through a set of given points. They use this method to determine the location of a distribution center which is equidistant from the outlets of a large department...
Wolfram Research
Wolfram Math World: Conic Sections
A fairly comprehensive look at various types of conic sections is presented. Most of the information is presented as introductory, with an emphasis on terminology. Through an understanding of the terminology, one can understand the...
Johan Claeys
Math Abundance: The Parabola
Defines parabolas, their properties, gives parametric equations, tangent line in a point D of a parabola, etc.