Cônicas : apreciando uma obra-prima da matemática

Abstract

In this paper we discuss some issues related to Conic Sections: ellipse, parabola and hyperbole. The work is divided into five chapters: Introduction; Origin of Conic Sections; Equations of Conic Sections; Reflection Properties of Conic Sections; Building Conic Sections. In the second chapter, we’ll talk about doubling the cube problem that, according to the History of Mathematics, originated the conic sections and talk about some mathematicians whose work contributed to the study of these curves. In the third chapter, we will study the Cartesian equations of conic sections, as well as their graphical representations and the main elements of each curve. In the fourth chapter, we presented the reflection properties of conic sections and some very interesting applications of these properties. In the last chapter, we will show some methods to construct conic sections and then we will make these constructs in practice through concrete materials and through a dynamic geometry program, called Geogebra.