parabola
Meaning: A symmetrical open curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to its side, described by a quadratic equation.
A parabola is one of the four conic sections and is the graph of any quadratic function of the form y = ax² + bx + c. It has a single axis of symmetry and a focal point, which gives it useful reflective properties exploited in satellite dishes and car headlamps. The plural can be either parabolas or parabolae.
Examples
- The trajectory of the ball followed a parabola before landing in the outfield. 球的轨迹呈抛物线状,然后落在外场。La trayectoria de la pelota siguió una parábola antes de caer en el jardín exterior.ボールの軌道は放物線を描き、外野に落下した。공의 궤적은 포물선을 그리며 외야에 떨어졌습니다.
- Students were asked to sketch the parabola defined by the equation y equals x squared. 学生们被要求画出方程y = x²所定义的抛物线。Se pidió a los alumnos que trazaran la parábola definida por la ecuación y igual a x al cuadrado.学生たちはy = x²の方程式で定義される放物線を描くよう求められた。학생들은 y = x²의 방정식으로 정의되는 포물선을 그리라는 과제를 받았습니다.
- The reflector dish was shaped as a parabola to focus incoming signals onto the receiver. 反射器天线呈抛物线形状,将接收到的信号聚焦到接收器上。La antena reflectora tenía forma de parábola para concentrar las señales entrantes en el receptor.反射器アンテナは放物線の形をしており、入ってくる信号を受信機に集中させた。반사판 안테나는 들어오는 신호를 수신기에 집중시키기 위해 포물선 형태로 만들어졌습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, scientific
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Greek parabole (comparison, application), from paraballein (to throw beside). Adopted into mathematical Latin in the 16th century by Apollonius of Perga's translators.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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