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CONIC SECTIONS.
DEFINITIONS.
1. CONIC sections are the figures made by the mu∣tual intersection of a cone and a plane.
2. According to the different positions of the cutting plane, there arise five different figures or sections, namely, a triangle, a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, and an hyperbola: the three last of which only are peculiarly called conic sections.
3. If the cutting plane pass through the vertex of the cone, and any part of the base, the section will evidently be a triangle; as VAB.
4. If the plane cut the cone parallel to the base, or make no angle with it, the section will be a circle; as ABD.