ss="intersentencespace"></span> For a hyperbola, <span class="inline_math">\( q = a(\varepsilon-1) \)</span> and the eccentricity is <span class="inline_math">\( \varepsilon&gt;1 \)</span>.</p>
<p>We can use the eccentricity parameter <span class="inline_math">\( \varepsilon \)</span> to classify all four curves.<span class="intersentencespace"></span> Depending on the value of <span class="inline_math">\( \varepsilon \)</span>,
the equation <span class="inline_math">\( r(\theta) \)</span> defines either a 