QUADRIC SURFACES

equation in x = const y = const z = const

name standard form cross-section cross-section cross-section sketch

plane ax + by + cz = d line line line

elliptic x2 y2
cylinder a2
+ b2
=1 two lines two lines ellipse

parabolic
cylinder y = ax2 one line two lines parabola

sphere x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = d2 circle circle circle

x2 y2 z2
ellipsoid a2 + b2 + c2 =1 ellipse ellipse ellipse

elliptic x2 y2 z
paraboloid a2 + b2 = c parabola parabola ellipse

two lines two lines

elliptic y2
if x = 0 if y = 0
x2 z2
cone a2 + b2 = c2 ellipse
hyperbola hyperbola
if x 6= 0 if y 6= 0

hyperboloid x2 y2 z2
of one sheet a2
+ b2
− c2
=1 hyperbola hyperbola ellipse

hyperboloid x2 y2 z2
of two sheets a2
+ b2
− c2
= −1 hyperbola hyperbola ellipse

hyperbolic y2 x2 z
paraboloid b2 − a2 = c parabola parabola hyperbola