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Hyperbola

Hyperbola

A conic section that can be thought of as an inside-out ellipse.

Formally, a hyperbola can be defined as follows: For two given points, the foci, a hyperbola is the locus of points such that the difference between the distances to each focus is constant.

 

Two hyperbola graphs: horizontal ((x-h)²/a² - (y-k)²/b² = 1) and vertical ((y-k)²/b² - (x-h)²/a² = 1), with center (h,k), axes...



Hyperbola diagram showing two curves on x-y axes with box, foci, and labels: (x-h)²/a² - (y-k)²/b² = 1; a²+b²=c²


Hyperbola with two foci showing L1 and L2 distances from point P; |L1−L2|=2a (horizontal) or 2b (vertical).

 

See also

Focus, focal radius, directrices of a hyperbola