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...
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McGraw Hill

Glencoe: Quiz on the Rectangular and Parametric Form of Conic Sections

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The online assessment demonstrates understanding of advanced mathematical concepts in Trigonometry. The questions assess students on the rectangular and parametric form of conic sections.
Activity
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: Analytic Geometry: Polar Coordinates

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site from The Math Forum provides great information on polar coordinates. You can access this information either by clicking on the coordinates link or just scrolling down, it is the first one listed on the page. Includes several...
Website
Purple Math

Purplemath: Conics: Parabolas: Introduction

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This reference material introduces the terms and equations related to parabolas in the context of conics. Also, relates concepts to previously-learned material and shows how to 'read' from the 'conics' form of the parabola equation.
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.
Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Math World: Conic Sections

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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...
Unit Plan
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: Parallel Lines and Conic Sections

For Students 9th - 10th
Dr. Math and a couple of students discuss the possibility of whether parallel lines can be constructed as a degenerate case of conics.
Website
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Ellipse or Circle? Parametric Equation

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Dr. Math, in reply to a student question, shows how a specific pair of parametric equations produces a circle as opposed to an ellipse.
Website
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Web Math: Plots and Geometry

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site provides descriptions and helpful hints regarding conic sections - circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. Content also includes interactive problem solvers complete with a full analysis of the math behind the answer.
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.
Handout
Purple Math

Purplemath: Conics: An Overview

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Introduces the basics of conics in algebra, including a flow-chart for determining which sort of conic is represented by a given equation.
Handout
Paul Dawkins

Paul's Online Notes: Algebra: Hyperbolas

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed math tutorial features notes and examples that take a look at the process of graphing hyperbolas.
Handout
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: Conic Basics

For Students 9th - 10th
A written description of the different conic sections is described at this site from the Math Forum. The description identifies the importance of the eccentricity in determining the type of conic.
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Math Aids

Math Aids: Algebra 2 Worksheets

For Students 9th - 10th
Great resource to practice and strengthen math skills pertaining to Algebra 2. Math worksheets are printable, may be customized, and include answer keys.
Handout
Other

Sierra College: Conics

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Provides the locus of points, dominant axis and equation, discriminant, center, vertex, focus, directrix, and asymptotes for the parabola, the ellipse, and the hyperbola.
Handout
Johan Claeys

Math Abundance: The Parabola

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Defines parabolas, their properties, gives parametric equations, tangent line in a point D of a parabola, etc.
Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Maths and Sports: Angle of Shot

For Students 10th - 12th
At what angle should you release the shot to break Olympic records? This activity gives students the opportunity to investigate projectile motion in a real-life context, and is aimed at A-level students (grades 10, 11, and 12).
Website
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: An Introduction to Parabolas

For Students 9th - 10th
"Dr. Math" wonderfully discusses the basics of parabolas. He identifies where in our lives we would see parabolas as well as mentioning some of the terminology associated with them. A link is provided for information on conic sections.
Handout
Johan Claeys

Math Abundance: The Hyperbola

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Great Site! Defines Hyperbola, gives the parametric equation, etc.
Website
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The Math Forum: Everyday Appearances of Conics

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Just getting started with conics and you need some examples of where they occur? Check out Dr. Math's reply to such a question.
Website
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Posed with a student question about equations of conics, Dr. Math provides some insight on the standard form of parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. One example is shown.
Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Math World: Eccentricity

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site explains eccentricity, the quantity defined by a conic section to determine its type of conic section. Has links to related topics.
Handout
Math Words

Math words.com: Conic Sections

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Examples of conic sections are given and the equation for their standard form is also given.