axis
Physiology
(noun)
A line between two points that is used to give direction to an anatomical region.
Calculus
Physics
(noun)
An imaginary line around which an object spins or is symmetrically arranged.
Examples of axis in the following topics:
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Regional Terms and Axes
- The Dorsoventral axis (DV axis) is formed by the connection of the dorsal and ventral points of a region.
- The Anterioposterior axis (AP axis) is the axis formed by the connection of the anterior (top) and posterior (bottom) ends of a region.
- The AP axis of a region is by definition perpendicular to the DV axis and vice-versa.
- The Left-to-right axis is the axis connecting the left and right hand sides of a region.
- Axis (A) (in red) shows the AP axis of the tail, (B) shows the AP axis of the neck, and (C) shows the AP axis of the head.
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Standard Equations of Hyperbolas
- Consistent with the symmetry of the hyperbola, if the transverse axis is aligned with the x-axis, the slopes of the asymptotes are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign, ±b⁄a, where b=a×tan(θ) and where θ is the angle between the transverse axis and either asymptote.
- A conjugate axis of length 2b, corresponding to the minor axis of an ellipse, is sometimes drawn on the non-transverse principal axis; its endpoints ±b lie on the minor axis at the height of the asymptotes over/under the hyperbola's vertices.
- If the transverse axis of any hyperbola is aligned with the x-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system and is centered on the origin, the equation of the hyperbola can be written as:
- The perpendicular thin black line through the center is the conjugate axis.
- The two thick black lines parallel to the conjugate axis (thus, perpendicular to the transverse axis) are the two directrices, D1 and D2.
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The Cartesian System
- The horizontal axis is known as the x-axis and the vertical axis is known as the y-axis.
- The non-integer coordinate, $(-1.5,-2.5)$ is in the middle of -1 and -2 on the x-axis and -2 and -3 on the y-axis.
- The revenue is plotted on the y-axis and the number of cars washed is plotted on the x-axis.
- Point $(4,0)$ is on the x-axis and not in a quadrant.
- Point $(0,-2)$ is on the y-axis and also not in a quadrant.
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Cylindrical Shells
- In the shell method, a function is rotated around an axis and modeled by an infinite number of cylindrical shells, all infinitely thin.
- The volume of the solid formed by rotating the area between the curves of $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ and the lines $x=a$ and $x=b$ about the $y$-axis is given by:
- The volume of solid formed by rotating the area between the curves of $f(y)$ and and the lines $y=a$ and $y=b$ about the $x$-axis is given by:
- Each segment located at $x$, between $f(x)$and the $x$-axis, gives a cylindrical shell after revolution around the vertical axis.
- Use shell integration to create a cylindrical shell and calculate the volume of a "solid of revolution" perpendicular to the axis of revolution.
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Symmetry of Functions
- Functions and relations can be symmetric about a point, a line, or an axis.
- The image below shows an example of a function and its symmetry over the $x$-axis (vertical reflection) and over the $y$-axis (horizontal reflection).
- The axis splits the U-shaped curve into two parts of the curve which are reflected over the axis of symmetry.
- Notice that the $x$-intercepts are reflected points over the axis of symmetry and are equidistant from the axis.
- This type of symmetry is a translation over an axis.
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Reflections
- The reflection of a function can be performed along the $x$-axis, the $y$-axis, or any line.
- A vertical reflection is a reflection across the $x$-axis, given by the equation:
- The result is that the curve becomes flipped over the $x$-axis.
- The result is that the curve becomes flipped over the $y$-axis.
- Calculate the reflection of a function over the $x$-axis, $y$-axis, or the line $y=x$
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Area of a Surface of Revolution
- A surface of revolution is a surface in Euclidean space created by rotating a curve around a straight line in its plane, known as the axis .
- Examples of surfaces generated by a straight line are cylindrical and conical surfaces when the line is co-planar with the axis, as well as hyperboloids of one sheet when the line is skew to the axis.
- If the curve is described by the parametric functions $x(t)$, $y(t)$, with $t$ ranging over some interval $[a,b]$ and the axis of revolution the $y$-axis, then the area $A_y$ is given by the integral:
- Likewise, when the axis of rotation is the $x$-axis, and provided that $y(t)$ is never negative, the area is given by:
- A portion of the curve $x=2+\cos z$ rotated around the $z$-axis (vertical in the figure).
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Parts of an Ellipse
- The major axis of the ellipse is the longest width across it.
- For a horizontal ellipse, that axis is parallel to the x-axis.
- The major axis has length $2a$.
- For a horizontal ellipse, it is parallel to the y-axis.
- The minor axis has length $2b$.
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Volumes of Revolution
- The disc method is used when the slice that was drawn is perpendicular to the axis of revolution; i.e. when integrating parallel to the axis of revolution.
- The shell method is used when the slice that was drawn is parallel to the axis of revolution; i.e. when integrating perpendicular to the axis of revolution.
- Disc integration about the $y$-axis.
- Integration is along the axis of revolution ($y$-axis in this case).
- The integration (along the $x$-axis) is perpendicular to the axis of revolution ($y$-axis).
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Zeroes of Linear Functions
- Graphically, where the line crosses the $x$-axis, is called a zero, or root.
- If there is a horizontal line through any point on the $y$-axis, other than at zero, there are no zeros, since the line will never cross the $x$-axis.
- If the horizontal line overlaps the $x$-axis, (goes through the $y$-axis at zero) then there are infinitely many zeros, since the line intersects the $x$-axis multiple times.
- Because the $x$-intercept (zero) is a point at which the function crosses the $x$-axis, it will have the value $(x,0)$, where $x$ is the zero.
- To find the zero of a linear function, simply find the point where the line crosses the $x$-axis.