Latus Rectum of Conic Section

Latus Rectum of Conic Section Introduction

A conic section is the curve that is formed when a plane intersects a cone. There are four types of conic sections: a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, and a hyperbola. Each type of conic section is defined by its unique properties.

The latus rectum of a conic section is a line segment that is perpendicular to the axis of the cone and that connects the vertex of the cone to the focus of the conic section. The latus rectum is always the same length for a given conic section.

Latus Rectum Definition

The latus rectum is a line segment that is the locus of points equidistant from a given point and a given line. It is the shortest distance between the two points.

Length of the Latus Rectum of a Parabola

The length of the latus rectum of a parabola is the length of the segment that connects the vertex of the parabola to the point on the parabola where the latus rectum intersects the parabola.

Length of the Latus Rectum of Hyperbola

The length of the latus rectum of a hyperbola is the distance from the center of the hyperbola to the focus.

Latus Rectum

The latus rectum is a line segment from the focus to the directrix of a parabola.