Using examples from everyday life, this text studies ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas. Explores their ancient origins and describes the reflective properties and roles of curves in design applications. 1993 edition. Includes 98 figures.

"Geometry Of Conics deals with the properties of conics (plane curves of second degree) that can be formulated and proved using only elementary geometry. Starting with the well-known optical properties of conics, this book moves to less trivial results, both classical and contemporary. It demonstrates the advantage of purely geometric methods of studying conics."--Publisher's website.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1872.