Activity 1: Parabolas
Notice and Wonder
Record what you notice or wonder:
Task 2:
How do the focus and directrix influence the shape of the parabola? What happens to the width?
Is there a way to change the orientation of the parabola?
If the distance from a point on the parabola to the directrix is 5, what is the distance from that point to the focus?
What if the distance to the directrix is 12? What if it’s some number n? Explain your reasoning.
Based on what you’ve explored with the focus, directrix, and the points on the parabola, how would you describe or define a parabola?