hy·per·bo·la (h -pûr b -l)n. pl. hy·per·bo·las or hy·per·bo·lae (-l  ) A plane curve having two branches, formed by the intersection of a plane with both halves of a right circular cone at an angle parallel to the axis of the cone. It is the locus of points for which the difference of the distances from two given points is a constant. [New Latin, from Greek huperbol , a throwing beyond, excess (from the relationship between the line joining the vertices of a conic and the line through its focus and parallel to its directrix); see hyperbole.] |   x2 - y2=1 |
hyperbola [haɪˈpɜːbələ]
n pl -las, -le [-ˌliː]
(Mathematics) a conic section formed by a plane that cuts both bases of a cone; it consists of two branches asymptotic to two intersecting fixed lines and has two foci. Standard equation: x2/a2 - y2/b2 = 1 where 2a is the distance between the two intersections with the x-axis and b = a√(e2 - 1), where e is the eccentricity
[from Greek huperbolē, literally: excess, extravagance, from hyper- + ballein to throw]
| hyperbola (h-pûrb-l) Plural hyperbolas or hyperbolae (h -pûrb-l) A plane curve having two separate parts or branches, formed when two cones that point toward one another are intersected by a plane that is parallel to the axes of the cones. |  x2 - y2 = 1 |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  hyperbola - an open curve formed by a plane that cuts the base of a right circular coneconic, conic section - (geometry) a curve generated by the intersection of a plane and a circular cone |
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