Creative Science Centre
Creative Science Centre: Solar Heaters and Other Parabolic Devices
Parabolic mirror surfaces are found wherever energy needs to be focused efficiently and accurately. You find them built into car headlights, spotlights, as well as astronomical telescopes. Here we explore the parabola in the design of...
Oswego City School District
Regents Exam Prep Center: Parabolas
Students will learn about parabolas and how to graph them. Use the given lesson plan and examples to help support instruction and solve the practice problems.
Other
Platonic Realms: Function
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.
Other
Platonic Realms: Conics
This resource provides in depth information on the conic sections. Click on the underlined words for definitions and diagrams.
Wolfram Research
Wolfram Math World: Parabola
This is an excellent site on parabolas. Examples and formulas are given.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: Practice Problems: Systems of Inequalities
Hotmath provides 21 practice problems dealing with systems of equations and inequalities. Each of the practice problems include a step-by-step guide for solving their algebraic problem.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: Practice Problems: Conic Sections
Hotmath provides 26 practice problems relating to conic sections. Each of the practice problems include a step-by-step guide for solving their conic.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Hotmath: Practice Problems: Parabola
Thirty-two problems present a variety of practice working with parabolas. They are given with each step to the solution cleverly revealed one at a time. You can work each step of the problem then click the "View Solution" button to check...
Other
Algebra Class: Solving and Graphing a Quadratic Equation
Math teacher provides a unit on quadratic equations in which she explains the concepts of solving and graphing quadratic equations through numerous examples and graphs. Hyperlinks are available to each step that ultimately leads to...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyzing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
Given the graph of a situation represented by a quadratic function, the student will analyze the graph and draw conclusions.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyzing the Effects of Changes in "A" on the Graph Y=ax^2 + C
Given verbal, graphical, or symbolic descriptions of the graph of y = ax^2 + c, the student will investigate, describe, and predict the effects on the graph when "a" is changed.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Testing a Parabolic Reflector With Light From an Led
You can see examples of parabolic reflectors in flashlights, car headlights, satellite TV antennas, and even on the sidelines at football games. In this project, you can use an LED and a simple photodector to investigate this concept.
Paul Dawkins
Paul's Online Notes: Algebra: Parabolas
Detailed math tutorial features notes and examples that investigate the process for graphing parabolas.
Paul Dawkins
Paul's Online Notes: Algebra: Hyperbolas
Detailed math tutorial features notes and examples that take a look at the process of graphing hyperbolas.
Government of Alberta
Learn Alberta: Math Interactives: Exploring Parabolas and Polynomial Equations
This multimedia Learn Alberta math resource looks at how parabolas and polynomial equations are used to study an object's flight path. The accompanying interactive component lets students explore and make comparisons of the flight paths...
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Parabola
This is a brief lesson on the parabola. The lesson also has links to related topics.
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Christiaan Huygens
This University of St. Andrews site contains biographical information and findings of Christiaan Huygens.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Parabola Focal Point
Dr. Math discusses some of the "rules" of parabolas that are specific to the focal point.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Equation of a Parabola
Dr. Math, in a reply to a student question, shows how a parabola is just a quadratic equation.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Parabolic Equation of an Arch
A student, in writing to Dr. Math, wants to know how to find the equation of the parabola of McDonald's arches. Dr. Math helps the student get started with the problem.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Rotating Parabolas
Dr. Math, in a reply to a student question, shows how to derive the equation of a parabola for situations when the line of symmetry is not || to one of the axes.
University of Regina (Canada)
University of Regina: Math Central: Why Are Satellite Dishes Parabolic?
This site explains why satellite dishes are parabolic.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Applying the Definition of a Parabola
Dr. Math responds to a student question about parabolas. The student asks a series of questions about a parabola, including how to derive the formula of a parabola from the definition, a parabola is the set of all point equal distance...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Old Mac Donald's Pigpen
In this activity, students solve a standard maximum value problem using the calculator. Students help Old MacDonald build a rectangular pigpen with 40 m fencing that provides maximum area for the pigs. They graph scatter plots, analyze...