Pre Calculus

Ellipses

What You Should Learn

Write equations of ellipses in standard

form and graph ellipses.

Given equations of ellipses, find key

features.

Find eccentricities of ellipses.

Plan for today

Review of Homework
Quick Review
Little Quiz Lines
Ellipses
Homework
Page 722 # 1-6 all (matching),
7, 11,15, 21, 39 47 odd
3

So Far
Double napped
cone
Intersection of
plane and the
cone created 4
basic sections

Lines
Inclination If a non horizontal line
has an inclination of and slope m,
then tan = m. Remember if the
slope, m, is negative, find and
add 180o
Angle between two lines
If two non perpendicular lines have
m1 and m2, the angle between the
two lines is:
Distance between the point (x1, y1)
and a line
Ax + By + C = 0 is:

tan 1 m

m2 m1
tan |
|
1 m1m2
d

| Ax1 By1 C |
A2 B 2
5

Recognizing a Conic
Ax2 + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
AC = 0
A or C is zero - no x2 or no y2
term
Parabola
A=C
A is equal to C, same value
Circle
AC > 0
A and C have the same sign but
have different values Ellipse
AC < 0
A and C have different signs
Hyperbola
6

Circles
Standard form of a circle with the
center at (0, 0) and r is the
radius:
x2 + y2 = r2
Standard form of a circle with the
center at (h, k) and radius of r:
(x h)2 + (y k)2 = r2
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Parabolas

Orientation
Vertex (h, k)
Directrix
Focus
Axis of symmetry
p
Equations:

ax 2 bx c y
a x h k y
2

x h

4 p( y k )

( y k ) 4 p ( x h)
2

You should be able to

Identify key features of lines
Recognize a Conic
Given an equation of a Circle
Find the center and radius
Given key information about a circle, find the
equation in standard form
Given an equation of a Parabola
Find the orientation, focus, vertex, directrix
Sketch
Given key information about a parabola, find the
equation in standard form

Quiz Time

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An ellipse is the set of all points in the plane for which the sum of
the distances to two fixed points (called foci) is a positive constant.
The major axis is the line segment passing
through the foci with endpoints (called vertices)
on the ellipse.
The midpoint of the major
axis is the center of the ellipse.

vertex
The minor axis is the line segment
perpendicular to the major axis
passing through the center of the
ellipse with endpoints on the
ellipse.

Ellipse

focus

d1

center

d1 + d2 = constant
d2 focus major axis
vertex

minor axis
The sum of the distance from any
point on the ellipse to each of the
foci remains constant.
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Key Identifiers of an Ellipse

a is the distance from the center to the end of the
major axis. Therefore the entire length of the major
axis is 2a. The center is the midpoint of the major axis.
a is always the largest number.
b is the distance from the center to the end of the
minor axis. Therefore the entire length of the minor
axis is 2b. The center is the midpoint of the minor axis.
c is the distance from the center to one of the two
focus points. The center is the midpoint of the two
focus points (foci).
c2 = a 2 b 2
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The standard form for the equation of an ellipse with center at

2
2
x
y
the origin and a major axis that is horizontal is:
, with:

1
a2 b2
vertices: (a, 0), (a, 0) and foci: (c, 0), (c, 0) where c2 = a2 b2
y
a
c
( a, 0)

(c, 0)

(0, b)
b

x2 y2
2 1
2
a
b

x
a
(0, 0) (c, 0) (a, 0)

(0, b)
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The standard form for the equation of an ellipse with center at

2
2
the origin and a major axis that is vertical is: x y 1, with:
b2 a 2

vertices: (0, a), (0, a) and foci: (0, c), (0, c) where c2 = a2 b2
y

a
( b, 0)

(0, a)
x2 y 2
(0, c) b 2 a 2 1

(0, 0)
x
b (b, 0)
a
(0, -c)
(0, a)
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Example: Sketch the ellipse with equation 25x2 + 16y2 = 400

and find the vertices and foci.
y
1. Put the equation into standard form.
25 x 2 16 y 2 400
divide by 400
(0, 5)
(0, 3)
2
2
25 2 16 2
x
y
x
y 1
1
5 (4, 0)
3
400
400
16 25
x
So, a = 5 and b = 4.
(4, 0)
4
2. Since the denominator of the y2-term
(0, 3)
(0, 5)
is larger, the major axis is vertical.
3. Vertices: (0, 5), (0, 5)
4. The minor axis is horizontal and intersects the ellipse at (4, 0)
and (4, 0).
5. Foci: c2 = a2 b2 (5)2 (4)2 = 9 c = 3

foci: (0, 3), (0,3)

15

The standard form for the equation of an ellipse with center at

the (h, k) and a major axis that is horizontal is:

( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2

1
2
2
a
b

vertices: (h a, k), (h + a, k) and foci: (h c, k), (h + c, k)

where c2 = a2 b2
(h, k + b)
a

( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2

1
2
2
a
b

a
c
(h a, k) (h c, k) (h, k) (h + c, k) (h + a, k)
(h, k b)
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The standard form for the equation of an ellipse with center at

the (h, k) and a major axis that is vertical is:

( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2

1
2
2
b
a

vertices: (h , k a), (h, k + a) and foci: (h, k c), (h, k + c)

where c2 = a2 b2
(h, k + a)

2
2
(
x

h
)
(
y

k
)
(h, k + c)

1
2
2
a
b
a
c
(h, k)
b (h + b, k)
(h b, k) b
a
(h, k -c)

(h , k - a)

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Note on Orientation
To recognize the difference between a
vertically oriented and horizontally
oriented ellipse:
1. Put the equation is standard form
2. If the largest number is under the x 2
term it is horizontal
3. If the largest number is under the y 2
term it is vertical
Remember a is always the largest
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Example: Find the standard form of the equation of the ellipse

having foci at (0,1), and (4, 1) and a major axis length of 6.
1. Identify what information you have.
Since the foci occur at (0, 1) and (4, 1)
the center of the of the ellipse is (2, 1) - midpoint of the foci
The distance from the center to a focus point is 2, c = 2
The length of the major axis = 2a so a =3
2. Calculate b: a2 b2 = c2
a2 c2 = b2 32 22 = b2 5 = b2
3. Choose the equation based upon orientation of the ellipse,
since a is larger, the major axis is horizontal. Or, since the foci
are on a horizontal line, it is horizontal.
4. Put information into the equation.

( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2
x 2
( y 1) 2

1
2
2
a
b
9
5
2

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Example: Sketch a graph of the ellipse: x2 + 4y2 + 6x 8y + 9 = 0

1. Put the equation into standard form by completing the
square. x 2 4 y 2 6 x 8 y 9 0
( x 2 6 x ___) 4( y 2 2 y ____) 9 ___ (4) ___
( x 2 6 x 9) 4( y 2 2 y 1) 9 9 (4)1
( x 3) 2 4( y 1) 2 4
( x 3) 2 ( y 1) 2

1
4
1

2. Since the denominator of the x2-term

is larger, the major axis is horizontal.
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Example: Sketch a graph of the ellipse: x2 + 4y2 + 6x 8y + 9 = 0

( x 3) 2 ( y 1) 2

1
4
1

Horizontal

3. To graph this we need to know key information:

The center is (-3,1)
Since a2 = 4, a = 2, the major axis vertices are:
(h + 2, k) and (h 2, k) (-1, 1) and ( -5, 1)
Since b2 = 1, b = 1, the minor axis vertices are:
(h , k + 1) and (h , k + 1) (-3, 2) and ( -3, 0)
4. The foci can be found but are not needed to graph:
c2 = a2 b2 (2)2 (1)2 = 3
c 3 , foci (h 3 , k ) (3 3 ,1)
21

( x 3) 2 ( y 1) 2

1
4
1

The center is (-3,1)

The major axis vertices are: (-1, 1) and ( -5, 1)

The minor axis vertices are:(-3, 2) and ( -3, 0)
(-3, 2)

(-5, 1)

(-3, 1)

(-1, 1)

(-3, 0)
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Example: Find the center, vertices and foci of the ellipse:

4x2 + y2 + 8x +4y 8 = 0
1. Put the equation into standard form by completing the
square. 4 x 2 y 2 8 x 4 y 8 0
4( x 2 2 x ___) ( y 2 4 y __) 8 (4) __ __
4( x 2 2 x 1) ( y 2 4 y 4) 8 (4)1 4
4( x 1) 2 ( y 2) 2 16
( x 1) 2 ( y 2) 2

1
4
16

2. Since the denominator of the y2-term

is larger, the major axis is vertical.
23

Example: Find the center, vertices and foci of the ellipse:

4x2 + y2 + 8x +4y 8 = 0
( x 1) 2 ( y 2) 2
Vertical

1
4
16
3. To graph this we need to know key information:
The center is (1,-2)
Since a2 = 16, a = 4, the major axis vertices are:
(h , k + 4) and (h , k 4) (1, 2) and ( 1, -6)
Since b2 = 4, b = 2, the minor axis vertices are:
(h +2 , k) and (h 2, k) (3, -2) and ( -1, -2)
4. The foci can be found but are not needed to graph:
c2 = a2 b2 (4)2 (2)2 = 12
c 2 3 , foci (h, k 2 3 ) (1,2 2 3 )
24

Eccentricity
The eccentricity e of
an ellipse is given by
the ratio:

c
e
a

Eccentricity is used to measure the ovalness of an ellipse.

0 < e < 1 for every ellipse.
Because the foci of an ellipse are located along the major
axis between the vertices and the center, it follows that:
0<c<a
For an ellipse that is nearly circular, the foci are close to the
center and the ration c/a is small. For an elongated ellipse the
foci are close to the vertices and the ratio c/a is close to 1.
25

Eccentricity with Circles and

Parabolas
Ellipses have an eccentricity between
zero and one.
Circles are really ellipses with an
eccentricity of zero. The two foci
coincide and create the center.
Parabolas always have an eccentricity
of one.
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Another Note
The area of a circle is:
r2
The area of an ellipse is: ab

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Wrap up

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Ellipses
( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2

1
2
2
a
b

( y k ) 2 ( x h) 2

1
2
2
a
b

Horizontal orientation

Vertical orientation

Center (h, k)

Center (h, k)

Vertex (h a, k) (major)

Vertex (h, k a) (major)

Vertex (h, k b) (minor)

Vertex (h b, k) (minor)

Focus (h c, k)

Focus (h, k c)

Length of major axis 2a

Length of major axis 2a

Length of minor axis 2b

Length of minor axis 2b

a 2 b2 = c 2

a2 b2 = c2

e = c/a

e = c/a

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Homework 41
Page 722 # 1-6 all (matching),
7, 11,15, 21, 39 47 odd

30