Conic Sections: The Parabola

In this lesson, we will learn about the geometric definition of a parabola. A parabola is the set of all points that are equidistant from a fixed point called the focus and a fixed line called the directrix. Following this definition, we will derive the equation of a vertical parabola and the equation of a horizontal parabola. We will also learn how to find the focus, directrix, and equation when given information about the parabola. Lastly, we will cover the latus rectum, which is a line segment with endpoints on the parabola that passes through its focus and is parallel to its directrix.