---
tag: 00HJCMC2CD
kind: concept
name: Conic section
aliases: [conic, quadratic-curve]
msc: [51N20]
sources:
  - url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conic_section
    locator: lead section
same_as:
  wikidata: Q124255
  wikipedia: Conic section
---

## Summary

A conic section is a curve that a plane cuts from the surface of a double cone. In the plane, it is the set of zeros of a polynomial of degree $2$ in two variables. The non-degenerate conics are the ellipses, the parabolas and the hyperbolas.