Parabola - Geometric Definition I

Parabola - Geometric Definition I
Loading the math board and drawing, please wait…
2016-02-18 06:59
This GeoGebra example demonstrates the geometric definition of a parabola: the locus of points equidistant from a fixed point (focus) and a fixed line (directrix). It visually shows how the parabola emerges as a conic section from this distance-equality condition. Core mathematical concepts include the focus, directrix, and the locus definition of a conic. The construction uses GeoGebra commands such as Circle, Intersect, Segment, OrthogonalLine, Angle, Locus, Point, and Conic, along with auxiliary objects (A, a, B, e, r, c, d, f, C, D, C', D', E, F, E', F', g, h, G, α, i, button1, loc1-loc4, H, I, J, k, j, l, m, n) to build the dynamic figure. It is suitable for high school or early college analytic geometry courses, helping students grasp the fundamental definition of a parabola and its geometric construction through interactive exploration.

GeoGebra Commands & Parameters

  1. Circle(B, r) → c
  2. Intersect(c, d, 1) → C
  3. Intersect(c, d, 2) → D
  4. Intersect(c, f, 1) → E
  5. Intersect(c, f, 2) → F
  6. Segment(B, D) → g
  7. OrthogonalLine(D, a) → h
  8. Intersect(a, h) → G
  9. Angle(D, G, A) → α
  10. Segment(D, G) → i
  11. Locus(D, r) → loc1
  12. Locus(C, r) → loc2
  13. Locus(E, r) → loc3
  14. Locus(F, r) → loc4
  15. Point(loc1) → H
  16. Point(loc2) → I
  17. Point(loc2) → J
  18. Conic(I, C, J, D, H) → k

AI Drawing Prompt Reference

Draw a dynamic geometric figure illustrating the geometric definition of a parabola: the locus of points equidistant from a fixed point (focus) and a fixed line (directrix). Start with a horizontal line as the directrix and a fixed point above it as the focus. Draw a circle centered at the focus with a variable radius, intersecting the directrix at two points and also intersecting a vertical auxiliary line through the focus at two other points. From each intersection on the directrix, draw a perpendicular segment to the directrix, and mark the angle between this segment and the line connecting the focus to the foot of the perpendicular. As the radius varies, the traced paths of these intersection points form two symmetric curve branches, and finally a complete parabola is fitted through five traced points. The figure should clearly show the focus, directrix, perpendicular segments, and angle markers to visualize the equal-distance condition.
The prompt above was compiled from the original drawing commands and is for reference only.