Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Hyperbola Definition
A hyperbola is a type of conic section formed by the intersection of a plane and a double cone. It consists of two separate curves called branches, which are mirror images of each other. The standard form of a hyperbola's equation can be expressed as (x-h)²/a² - (y-k)²/b² = 1 for horizontal hyperbolas, where (h, k) is the center, and a and b are distances related to the vertices and foci.
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Introduction to Hyperbolas
Foci and Vertices
In the context of hyperbolas, the foci are two fixed points located along the transverse axis, which is the line segment that connects the vertices. The vertices are the points where the hyperbola intersects its transverse axis. The distance from the center to each vertex is denoted as 'a', while the distance from the center to each focus is denoted as 'c'. The relationship between these distances is given by the equation c² = a² + b².
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Standard Form of Hyperbola Equation
The standard form of a hyperbola's equation provides a way to represent its geometric properties algebraically. For a hyperbola centered at the origin with a horizontal transverse axis, the equation is (x²/a²) - (y²/b²) = 1. To derive this equation, one must identify the center, vertices, and foci, allowing for the calculation of 'a' and 'c', and subsequently 'b' using the relationship c² = a² + b².
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