PRINTED BY R. CLAY, LONDON, FOR MACMILLAN & CO. CAMBRIDGE. London: BELL AND DALDY, 186, FLEET STREET. Dublin: WILLIAM ROBERTSON. Edinburgh: EDMONSTON AND DOUGLAS. Glasgow: JAMES MACLEHOSE. Oxford: J. H. AND JAS. PARKER. A GEOMETRICAL TREATISE ON CONIC SECTIONS, WITH A COPIOUS COLLECTION OF EXAMPLES, For the Use of Schools and Students in the Universities. BY THE REV. W. H. DREW, M.A. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; SECOND MASTER OF BLACKHEATH PROPRIETARY SCHOOL. Cambridge: MACMILLAN AND CO. MDCCCLVII. Adv. Bib PREFACE. THE importance of studying the properties of the Conic Sections by geometrical methods before entering upon the algebraic theory cannot, I think, be too much insisted upon, whether regarded as an introduction to the study of Newton, or with a view to a more complete understanding subsequently of the principles of Analytical Geometry. The advantage of observing this order is now so fully recognised at Cambridge, that during the first three days of the Examination for Honours the geometrical method is alone admissible. At the same time I believe that this mode of treating the subject has not received in Schools the attention which it deserves, and I cannot but think that this is in a great degree owing to the want of a book altogether suited for the purpose. In the following pages, which were originally compiled for the use of my own pupils at Blackheath, I have aimed at supplying this deficiency, and I have |