RWA #1: Unit M Concepts 4-6: Conic Sections in Real Life

Parabolas:
1-"The set of all points that are equidistant from a point that is known as the focus and a line known as the directrix." (Mrs.Kirch's LessonPaths Playlist Unit M Concept 4a)
2- The equation for a parabola is (x-h)^2=4p(y-k) or (y-k)^2=4p(x-h), with this we are able to receive pieces of information and will help to graph out the needed information.

http://www.mathwords.com/p/p_assets/parabola%20features%20focus%20directrix%20vertex%20axis.gif

     Some of the key features for the graphing of this conic section is the fact of seeing whether it goes up, down, left or right. Well to figure this out you must look to see which goes first/is squared and by this I mean the "x" and "y" in the equation that was given in the first sentence above the picture. With this information you will be able to learn whether it goes up/down or left/right as well will you be able to identify the center/vertex is by using the "h" and "k" that is given in the equation. However it will need "p" for you can further know if it is going to the right or down, "p" is the space between the focus and the vertex as well as the distance between the vertex and directrix. With this in mind, "p" has a huge impact on the hyperbola for it can show us whether the graph will be thin or wide but it also shows us the slope for the graph.
      There is also the directrix, which is given or you must find, and this helps to show you were your parabola must go over or next to. With the directrix you get the general idea of how the graph should look like at the end. There is also an axis of symmetry that goes through the focus and vertex and helps us to see in which direction the parabola should go into. However if still confused here is a video that may help you to further understand hyperbolas.

3- What it can be in the real world (example):

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/179/937/366/366937179_304.jpg

      A real world application of a hyperbola may be a jet of water, for better definition I mean the formation of the water of a fountain. What I mean is that when the water is going upward gravity is still pulling down making the water curve making it look like a parabola.
      If this was graphed out it would have a directrix right above the curving point, in which we can consider as the vertex, and a focus that will show us the approximation of how wide the water will be when falling back into the fountain. If you want to know more or just want to see more of what parabolas are in real life go here: http://www3.ul.ie/~rynnet/swconics/UP.htm

 4- Work cited:
"Applications of Hyperbolas." Applications of Hyperbolas. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
  "Equation of a Parabola (conic Section)." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 09 Feb. 2014
 "This Learning Playlist Is Empty." LessonPaths. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
 http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/179/937/366/366937179_304.jpg
http://www.mathwords.com/p/p_assets/parabola%20features%20focus%20directrix%20vertex%20axis.gif