what is the difference between an elliptical and circular paraboloid? (3D)

12.5k Views Asked by At

My textbook uses the terms interchangably, and they look the same in graphs, so I was wondering if there a difference between the two? Thanks!

1

There are 1 best solutions below

2
On BEST ANSWER

All circular paraboloids are elliptical paraboloids but not all elliptical paraboloids are circular paraboloids.

More precisely, an elliptical paraboloid in a surface which has parabolic cross sections in 2 orthogonal directions and 1 elliptical cross section in the other orthogonal direction.

enter image description here
(An elliptical paraboloid)

Because a circle is just a special type of ellipse (using one common definition of ellipse), a circular paraboloid (defined the same as elliptical paraboloid but with the last cross section being circular) is just a special type of elliptical paraboloid.

enter image description here
(A circular paraboloid)

If you'd prefer just to see the equations, the equation of an elliptical paraboloid is given by $$\frac zc = \left(\frac xa\right)^2 + \left(\frac yb\right)^2$$ If $a=b$, then this elliptical paraboloid is also a circular paraboloid.