ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Generalized conic

A generalized conic is a shape that can be drawn on a piece of paper using a ruler and two different types of tools called compasses. It is a special shape that can look like an oval, a circle, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

Think of it like drawing a funny face. You can use the ruler to make straight lines for the eyes and mouth, but you need the compasses to make the perfect round shape of the eyes. With a generalized conic, you use the compasses to make the different curves that make up the shape.

The shape of a generalized conic depends on how you use the compasses. For example, if you make one big curve with the compasses, you will get a circle. If you make two curves that look like half of a circle joined together, you will get an oval. If you make a V shape, you will get a hyperbola. And if you make a shape that looks like a smiley face or a frown, you will get a parabola.

Scientists and mathematicians use generalized conics to study and understand how objects move in space. It helps them predict how things like comets and planets move around the sun.

So, a generalized conic is a special shape made with a ruler and compasses that can look like different things, and it helps people learn about how things move in space.