A conic section is a curve that is created by the intersection of a plane and a cone. The four types of conic sections are ELLIPSE, PARABOLA, HYPERBOLA, and paraboloid. An ELLIPSE is a closed curve with two focal points, and is shaped like an oval. A PARABOLA is an open curve with one focal point, and is shaped like a U. A HYPERBOLA is an open curve with two focal points, and is shaped like an S. A paraboloid is a three-dimensional surface that is shaped like a PARABOLA.