Definition:Parabola/Latus Rectum

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Definition

ParabolaParts.png


Definition 1

The latus rectum of a parabola $P$ is the chord of $P$ passing through the focus of $P$ perpendicular to the axis of $P$.


Definition 2

The latus rectum of a parabola $P$ is the chord of $P$ passing through the focus of $P$ parallel to the directrix $D$.


Also see

  • Results about the latus rectum of a parabola can be found here.


Linguistic Note

The term latus rectum is a compound of the Latin:

latus, meaning side
rectum, meaning straight or right, as in straight line or right angle.

Hence it literally means right side or straight side.

Its plural is latera recta.