Latus Rectum Calculator
MathCalculate the latus rectum length of a parabola, ellipse, or hyperbola from its defining parameters.
Latus Rectum Length
Length of the chord through the focus, perpendicular to the major axis.
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Odeh Ahwal0people find this calculator helpful
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a latus rectum?
The latus rectum is the chord that passes through a conic section's focus, perpendicular to its major or transverse axis. Its length is a standard way to describe how wide the curve is at the focus.
Why does the formula differ between shapes?
A parabola has only one defining parameter, a, the distance from vertex to focus, giving a simple latus rectum of 4a. Ellipses and hyperbolas have two axis lengths, a and b, and their latus rectum formula, 2 times b squared divided by a, reflects the curve's different geometry.
What does parameter a represent for a parabola versus an ellipse?
For a parabola, a is the distance from the vertex to the focus. For an ellipse or hyperbola, a is the semi-major, or transverse, axis length, a different geometric measurement, so do not mix up the two conventions when switching conic types.
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