Why study mathematics The Parabola

Why study mathematics The Parabola How to continue the "Why Study Math" series of articles we have here is a look at the conic section called the parable. The parable is obtained by slicing the hair cone (see other articles of this series at this point) with a plane parallel to one of the generators of the cone. This means that the following: Take a Styrofoam cone, to draw a line on top, or a point, right at the base, on the back of this line, the part of the cone with a knife, half way from the top, and how the is parallel to the cutting line on the opposite side. The product of a cut called the parable form. The dish is first encountered by students in their study of high school algebra. They lea that the dish is the curve that is generated by any graphics or quadratic equation of the second degree. Unfortunately, the students get lost in all methods of solving these equations and thus the need for graphic design, unfortunately, they never lea the practical applications. This is a common problem for the study of mathematics. The student is lost in the forest and you can not see the trees. What students are not taught often enough, parables is that they often occur in the real world. They just need to open their eyes. For example, the parable may be more visible when the properties of a suspension bridge. The path formed by the suspension cables of the highest to the lowest level is in the form of a parable. During a game of basketball, the photos taken by players to draw a parabola in the air. In fact, this is probably one of the most common applications of the parabola: projectile motion. Any body thrown into space, passing under the force of a gravitational field and without the influence of air resistance, the traces of a parabola. In addition to the applications referred to above, called paraboloids parabolic surfaces in optics and other technological applications. Reflectors and antennas shaped dish surfaces. The headlights of your car are in this form too. In fact, the bulb is placed in a special point called the center of the dish. One thing to note is that when you drive by road and obscure your Brights is parabolic surface of your headlamp reflectors that allow you to see. Remember that when you try to see if the deer are crossing ahead. Until next time ...