A vertex is a point where a parabola, hyperbola, or ellipse intersects its axis of symmetry. It represents the maximum or minimum value of the conic section.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The vertex of a parabola given by $y=ax^2+bx+c$ can be found using the formula $x=-\frac{b}{2a}$.
In an ellipse, the vertices are located at the endpoints of the major axis.
For a hyperbola, the vertices are located at the points where each branch of the hyperbola intersects its transverse axis.
In polar coordinates, the vertex of a conic section can be found by converting from Cartesian coordinates using $r=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ and $\theta=\arctan(\frac{y}{x})$.
The distance between two vertices in an ellipse is equal to twice the length of its semi-major axis.