So I just completed the chapter Conic Sections and the one thing I could not understand is what is the use of Latus Rectum? It is defined as " Line segment passing through the focus and parallel to directrix." I've done questions like what is the length of latus rectum when some values are given. Is it just a line with no significance? I mean there can be a line in parabola parallel to directrix with say 8 times the focus? Is it any less significant than Latus rectum?
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1See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conic_section#Polar_coordinates for an example of its use. – amd Mar 10 '16 at 18:24
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@BarryCipra yeah my bad, its through focus – user3500780 Apr 28 '16 at 13:26
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@BarryCipra done – user3500780 May 01 '16 at 05:53