+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Conic Sections in the Motion of Heavenly Bodies

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Math scholars study conics and how they are used today. For this mathematical lesson, pupils construct and slice cones after viewing a demonstration. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ellipses and Kepler's First Law

For Teachers 11th - 12th
The class examines graphs in the form r = F(¿¿) in polar coordinates (r, ¿¿), in particular with the circle, ellipse and other conic sections. They determine the nature of an ellipse by studying the role of the semimajor axis and...
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Circles and Ellipses

For Students 11th - Higher Ed
In this circles and ellipses worksheet, learners solve and complete 12 different types of problems. First, they find the distance between the given pair of points. Then, students find the center and radius of each circle and sketch. They...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Equations for Curves Passing through a Given Set of Points

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Learner use three random locations on the coordinate system and simplify the expression and assign result to the variable loc. They substitute guesses for the center and radius of the circle in the equation for the center of a circle and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As The World Curves

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils partisipate in a web scavenger hunt on an introductory lesson for conic sections. They become familiar with general forms of the equations, what they look like, and how they are used in the real-world.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Projections

For Teachers K - 12th
Students view examples of various map projections using a website. Students record differences between the map projections. Students discuss uses for the various map projections and the differences between the maps they viewed. ...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Translation and Rotation of Axes

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students rotate axes to eliminate the xy-term and illustrate the dissectible cone as needed. They also discuss the discriminant for the second degree equation in two variables, as well as the translation of axes and rotation of axes....
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polar and Cartesian Coordinates

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students review polar coordinates, as well as translations and rotations in Cartesian Coordinates. They also watch a video on conics and write a summary of the video for a quiz grade. Students then find an equation after a...
+
Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Math World: Hyperbola

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site contains a vast amount of information relating to the hyperbola, including the definition of a hyperbola, equations in various systems, including polar, and many important characteristics of hyperbolas. Site also provides many...
+
Handout
Other

Platonic Realms: Function

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Resource provides an introduction to conics. A picture of each conic, the definition, and a brief discussion about the standard form of conic equations are given, along with encouragement to master conics.
+
Activity
Other

Edwin's Animated Images: Hyperbola

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site gives the focus/directrix definition of a conic. Also includes specific definition for the parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. Includes equations for the conics in both rectangular and polar coordinates.
+
Activity
Other

Edwin's Animated Images: Hyperbola

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This animated tutorial gives the focus/directrix definition of a conic. Also includes specific definition for the parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. Includes equations for the conics in both rectangular and polar coordinates.
+
Activity
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: Practice Problems: Conic Sections

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Hotmath provides 26 practice problems relating to conic sections. Each of the practice problems include a step-by-step guide for solving their conic.
+
Unit Plan
Purple Math

Purplemath: Conics: Hyperbolas

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A three-part tutorial that discusses the basic terms, definitions, and formulas related to hyperbolas.
+
Unit Plan
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Math World: The Ellipse

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site explain ellipse how they are formed with the foci, and gives a nice moving demonstration of drawing an ellipse. Read further down the page to equations of ellipses in different systems, including polar. The last half of the...
+
Website
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Uses of Conics

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Wondering who uses conics and where they occur in our lives? Dr. Math provides some answers to how math concepts involving conic sections, perabolas, hyperbolas, and ellipses are applied practically.
+
Website
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: The Origins of Conic Sections

For Students 9th - 10th
Dr. Math, in reply to a student question, gives background information on the origin of conic sections. Links also are included for further information.
+
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: Waxing Elliptical

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Based off of the hit television show NUMB3RS, this lesson introduces students to the ellipse, especially it's foci. Students create an ellipse on wax paper by repeatedly folding a circle to meet a chosen internal point. When finished,...
+
Activity
University of Michigan

Virtual Conics

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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...
+
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Conics and Reflection

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
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...
+
Activity
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Conicas

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
In Spanish. Learn more about the ellipse, hyperbola and the parabola with these interactive activities.
+
Activity
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Construccion Geometrica De Las Curvas Conicas

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Learn to construct conic curves with these interactive activities.
+
Activity
Ministry of Education and Universities of the Region of Murcia (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion Y Ciencia: Conicas: Esferas De Dandelin

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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.
+
Lesson Plan
University of Georgia

University of Georgia: Lessons on Parabolas

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
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).