What does parabola mean in Maths?

Parabola is obtained by slicing a cone parallel to the edge of the cone.

Answer: Parabola is a locus of all points which are equally spaced from a fixed line and a fixed point.

The fixed point is called, the focus of the parabola, and the fixed line is called, directrix of the parabola.

Explanation:

Parabola is obtained by slicing a cone parallel to the edge of the cone. It is of U – shape as a stretched geometric plane.

The formula is y = x² on the x – y axis.

For parabola, eccentricity is 1, that is, a : b = 1

Here, a is the perpendicular distance from the focus to a point on the curve and b is the distance from the directrix to the point.

Thus, a parabola is a locus of all points that are equally spaced from a fixed line and a fixed point with the equation y = x² on the x – y axis.