Question

the conic section below is ______.
a. a circle
b. an ellipse
c. a parabola
d. a hyperbola
e. a degenerate

Explanation:

Step1: Recall conic section shapes

A circle is round, an ellipse is oval, a parabola is a U - shaped curve, a hyperbola has two branches, and a degenerate conic is a special case (like a point or line).

Step2: Analyze the given graph

The graph shown is a U - shaped curve, which matches the shape of a parabola. A circle and ellipse are closed curves, a hyperbola has two branches, and this is not a degenerate conic.

Answer:

c. a parabola