Scribd
Upload
76 views5 pages

Folding Conic Sections: Materials

This document provides instructions for creating representations of conic sections (circle, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola) using wax paper, construction paper, a compass, ruler, and permanent marker. Students are directed to fold the wax paper in specific ways depending on the conic section, with the goal of tracing fold lines to reveal the shape. Materials needed include four pieces each of wax and construction paper, along with compasses, rulers, and markers.

Uploaded by

Benj Mangalindan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
76 views5 pages

Folding Conic Sections: Materials

This document provides instructions for creating representations of conic sections (circle, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola) using wax paper, construction paper, a compass, ruler, and permanent marker. Students are directed to fold the wax paper in specific ways depending on the conic section, with the goal of tracing fold lines to reveal the shape. Materials needed include four pieces each of wax and construction paper, along with compasses, rulers, and markers.

Uploaded by

Benj Mangalindan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Folding

Conic
Sections
Materials

Four pieces of wax paper per student.


(approximately 11 x 14 in.)
Four pieces of colored construction paper per student.
Compass
Ruler
Permanent Marker

Directions

For each conic section you will need one piece of wax paper,
one piece of construction paper, a permanent marker,
compass and ruler.

Conic Sections 1 http://MathInScience.info


Circle

1. With your compass draw a circle in the center of your wax


paper. Mark the center of your circle. Trace over the circle and
the center with a permanent marker.
2. Fold the wax paper several times so that the center point lies
on the circle. Try to fold so that you make your way all the way
around the circle.
3. Trace over all of the fold lines with your permanent marker.
4. You should see a smaller circle in the center of your larger
circle.
5. Attach the wax paper to a piece of construction paper by folding
the wax paper over the construction paper and taping it on the
back.
6. See below for an example.

Conic Sections 2 http://MathInScience.info


Ellipse

1. With your compass draw a circle in the center of your wax


paper. Mark the center of your circle. Trace over the circle and
the center with a permanent marker.
2. Draw another point anywhere inside of the circle.
3. Fold the wax paper several times so that the point, that is not
the center point, lies on the circle. Try to fold so that you make
your way all the way around the circle.
4. Trace over all of the fold lines with your permanent marker.
5. You should see a small ellipse inside of your circle.
6. Attach the wax paper to a piece of construction paper by folding
the wax paper over the construction paper and taping it on the
back.
7. See below for an example.

Conic Sections 3 http://MathInScience.info


Parabola

1. With your ruler draw a horizontal line across the bottom half of
your wax paper. Draw a point above the line (approximately in
the middle). Trace over the line and point with a permanent
marker.
2. Fold the wax paper several times so that the point lies on the
line. Try to fold so that you make your way all the way across
the line.
3. Trace over all of the fold lines with your permanent marker.
4. You should see a parabola.
5. Attach the wax paper to a piece of construction paper by folding
the wax paper over the construction paper and taping it on the
back.
6. See below for an example.

Conic Sections 4 http://MathInScience.info


Hyperbola

1. With your compass draw a circle on your wax paper. Draw a


point anywhere outside of the circle. Trace over the circle and
the point with a permanent marker.
2. Fold the wax paper several times so that the point outside of
the circle lies on the circle. Try to fold so that you make your
way all the way around the circle.
3. Trace over all of the fold lines with your permanent marker.
4. You should see a hyperbola.
5. Attach the wax paper to a piece of construction paper by folding
the wax paper over the construction paper and taping it on the
back.
6. See below for an example.

Conic Sections 5 http://MathInScience.info

You might also like