1. Definition of an Hyperbola:
An hyperbola is the set of points in a plane whose distances from two fixed points have a constant difference.
2. Distribute a copy of the Hyperbola paper to each student. Have each student trace out an hyperbola while I do one at the overhead. The purpose of this is to have students understand the definition of the hyperbola by locating points which satisfy the definition.
Hyperbola Paper
3. Develop the equation for an hyperbola with center at the origin, foci at (-c, 0) and (c, 0), and constant difference equal to 2a.
Given foci are (-c, 0) and (c, 0)
Let the constant difference = 2a
4. The general forms for an hyperbola are:
5. Examples:
