A parabola is a smooth curve with a particular shape: like the path of a ball you throw up and a little forward, as it rises and then falls.

A parabola is a smooth curve with a particular shapeparabola是一種有特定形狀的平滑曲線: like the path of a ball you throw up and a little forward就像你把球往上、稍微往前丟出去的軌跡, as it rises and then falls先上升再落下的那種

In maths the shape is exact, not “sort of curved.” You also meet it outside the classroom — water from a fountain, the cable of some bridges, the dish that catches a satellite signal (that dish is the three-dimensional cousin of this curve).

In maths the shape is exact在數學裡這個形狀是精確定義的, not “sort of curved.”不是「大概彎彎的」而已 You also meet it outside the classroom教室外也看得到它 — water from a fountain噴泉噴出的水, the cable of some bridges有些橋的纜線, the dish that catches a satellite signal接收衛星訊號的碟型天線 (that dish is the three-dimensional cousin of this curve)（那個碟子是這條曲線的立體版親戚）

If you slice a cone with a flat cut parallel to one side, the edge you get is a parabola.

If you slice a cone with a flat cut parallel to one side如果你用一個平行於一邊的平面去切一個圓錐, the edge you get is a parabola切出來的邊緣線就是parabola

Students sometimes call any arch or any U-shape a parabola; some of those shapes are, and some are quietly a different curve.

Students sometimes call any arch or any U-shape a parabola學生有時候會把任何拱形或U形都叫做parabola; some of those shapes are有些真的是, and some are quietly a different curve但有些其實悄悄是別種曲線

Though actually, the Greek name is the same as the one behind parable: a “throwing beside.” Maths kept one meaning and the Bible story kept the other.

Though actually不過其實, the Greek name is the same as the one behind parable這個希臘字跟parable背後的字是同一個: a “throwing beside.”意思是「丟在旁邊」 Maths kept one meaning and the Bible story kept the other數學留下了一個意思，聖經故事留下了另一個