
Circles, ellipses and hyperbolae have similar equations: All these curves are obtained from the intersection of a plane with a cone as shown above.
 for a circle of ellipses centred at the origin, with
for a circle of ellipses centred at the origin, with for a circle and
for a circle and for an ellipse and
for an ellipse and for a circle or ellipse centred at
for a circle or ellipse centred at
For a hyperbola, centred at the origin or
centred at the origin or for a hyperbola centred at
 for a hyperbola centred at at with again
at with again
 are all equations of parabolae.
 are all equations of parabolae.