You can
put this solution on YOUR website!If the equation has both x^2 and y^2 terms with EQUAL coefficients, then it is probably a CIRCLE.
If the equation has both x^2 and y^2 terms with UNEQUAL coefficients but with the same SIGN, then it is probably an ELLIPSE.
If the equation has both x^2 and y^2 terms with OPPOSITE signs, then it is probably a HYPERBOLA.
If the equation has an x^2 term but NO y^2 term, or a y^2 term but NO x^2 term, then it probably a PARABOLA.
I say "probably", because there under certain other conditions, there may be exceptions in which the graph is a point or no solution.
Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired
Seminole State College of Florida
