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parabola
[ puh-rab-uh-luh ]
noun
- a plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone with a plane parallel to a generator of the cone; the set of points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed line and a fixed point in the same plane or in a parallel plane. Equation: y 2 = 2 px or x 2 = 2 py.
parabola
/ pəˈræbələ /
noun
- a conic section formed by the intersection of a cone by a plane parallel to its side. Standard equation: y ² = 4 ax , where 2 a is the distance between focus and directrix
parabola
/ pə-răb′ə-lə /
- The curve formed by the set of points in a plane that are all equally distant from both a given line (called the directrix) and a given point (called the focus) that is not on the line.
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Notes
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of parabola1
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Example Sentences
If the load travels the reverse way, the shearing force at the head of the train is given by the ordinates of the dotted parabola.
This parabola is the curve of maximum moments for a travelling load uniform per ft. run.
Now, except for very short bridges and very unequal loads, a parabola can be found which includes the curve of maximum moments.
Let we be the load per ft. run which would produce the maximum moments represented by this parabola.
The planet would then have moved in a parabola, or an hyperbola, curves not returning into themselves.
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