LATUS RECTUM Meaning and
Definition
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Latus rectum, in mathematics and geometry, refers to a specific line segment associated with a conic section, such as an ellipse, hyperbola, or parabola. More specifically, it describes a line segment passing through one focus of the conic section and perpendicular to the major axis.
For an ellipse, the latus rectum is defined as the line segment passing through one focus and intersecting the ellipse at two points on the major axis. It is the longest chord or line segment that can be drawn through a focus of the ellipse.
In the case of a hyperbola, the latus rectum is the line segment passing through one focus and intersecting the hyperbola at two points on the transverse axis. It is also known as the transverse latus rectum as it is perpendicular to the transverse axis.
Finally, for a parabola, the latus rectum is a line segment passing through the focus and perpendicular to the axis of symmetry, also called the focal latus rectum. Unlike in the case of an ellipse or hyperbola, the latus rectum for a parabola has a special property: its length is equal to four times the focal length.
Overall, the latus rectum serves as a fundamental geometric element for analyzing and understanding the properties of conic sections, representing a significant feature related to the focus and axis of each curve.
Common Misspellings for LATUS RECTUM
- katus rectum
- patus rectum
- oatus rectum
- lztus rectum
- lstus rectum
- lwtus rectum
- lqtus rectum
- larus rectum
- lafus rectum
- lagus rectum
- layus rectum
- la6us rectum
- la5us rectum
- latys rectum
- laths rectum
- latjs rectum
- latis rectum
- lat8s rectum
- lat7s rectum
Etymology of LATUS RECTUM
The word "latus rectum" is a Latin term used in mathematics, specifically in conic sections, and it translates to "straight side" or "slant side" in English. The etymology of this term can be broken down as follows:
- "Latus" comes from the Latin word "latus", which means "side".
- "Rectum" is the neuter form of the adjective "rectus", which means "straight" or "direct".
In the context of conic sections, the latus rectum refers to a segment that passes through the focus of a parabola and is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. The term was likely coined by Latin mathematicians to describe this geometric feature.
Idioms with the word LATUS RECTUM
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