Question

1) A comet that passes through the solar system just once has a path that is modeled by a conic section. Astronomers discover a comet whose path is modeled by the following equation, with the Sun at one focus. What type of conic section is the comet's path?
(x^2)/(2500) - (y^2)/(37500) =1
A)hyperbola
B)parabola
c) circle
D)ellipse

2) What are the vertices of the comet's path? (Hint: Examine the general formula for the path and identify the numbers that determine the vertices.)

A) (50, 0) and (-50, 0)
B) (194, 0) and (-194, 0)
C) (25, 50) and (-25, 50)
D) (60, 12) and (-60, 12)

Answer 1

3) At its closest point to the Sun, this comet is ____ million miles from the Sun. (Enter only the number.)
Hint: Subtract the vertex from the focus (position of the Sun).