Question

What conic does the equation y^2-x^2=4 represent?

Answer 1

Hyperbola.

Answer 2

@DLS How do you know?

Answer 3

I thought it would have been a circle

Answer 4

\[\LARGE \frac{y^2}{4}-\frac{x^2}{4}=1\]

Answer 5

This is the general form of equation for a hyperbola..
For circle it is,(x-a)^2+(y-a)^2=1

Answer 6

So in order to find what it is, you divide the sides by the 4? @DLS

Answer 7

Yes,here.

Answer 8

Is that how you find out which conics is which? Simply divide what is whatever the number is to both sides?

Answer 9

@DLS

Answer 10

Depends.

Answer 11

You have to observe and have an idea about all the conics.