How do you identify conic sections?

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Answer 1 · 2014-09-28T18:38:55

General form of the conic equation

#Ax^2+Bxy+Cy^2+Dx+Ey+F=0#

The coefficients #A# and #C# are need to identify the conic sections without having to complete the square.

#A# and #C# cannot be #0# when making this determination.

Parabola#->A*C=0#

Circle#->A=C#

Ellipse#->A*C>0 and A!=C#

Hyperbola#->A*C<0#