Usefulness of Conic Sections Conic sections are a frequent target for dropping when attempting to make room for other topics in advanced algebra and precalculus courses.  A common argument in favor of dropping them is that typical first-year calculus doesn't use conic sections at all.  Do conic sections come up in typical intro-level undergraduate courses?  In typical prelim grad-level courses?  If so, where?

The study of parabolas (with axis parallel to y-axis) is useful when you have to solve 2nd degree inequations.
