# Parabola

plane curve: symmetrical conic section

A parabola is a type of curve. Menaechmus (380–320 BC) discovered the parabola, and Apollonius of Perga (262 BC–c190 BC) first named it.

A parabola
A parabola obtained as the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to a straight line on its surface

A parabola is a conic section. If a cone is cut by a plane which is parallel to one of the surfaces of the cone, the result is a parabola.

The point where the parabola reaches its maximum or minimum is called the "vertex." At this point the curvature of the parabola is greatest. This means the curve of the parabola is the tightest. The vertical line which passes through a parabola's vertex is called the "axis of symmetry". This is because the parabola looks the same on either side of that line.

Each parabola has a focal point. Any ray that enters the parabola and is parallel to the axis of symmetry will pass through this point after being reflected by the curve. Because of this fact, parabolas are important in devices such as satellite dishes, or magnifying mirrors. Parabolas are often used to approximate curves that are more difficult to model by themselves.

Every parabola uses the equation ${\displaystyle y=ax^{2}+bx+c}$, where ${\displaystyle a}$, ${\displaystyle b}$ and ${\displaystyle c}$ are constants, and ${\displaystyle a}$ is not equal to ${\displaystyle 0}$.

Parts of a parabola
The parabola is a member of the family of conic sections.