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3: ELLIPSES
Lesson 1.3.1: Definition
and Equation of an Ellipse
DEFINITION: An ellipse is a closed
figure in a plane that closely
resembles an oval. It is a set of all
coplanar points such that the sum
of its distances from two fixed
points is constant. The fixed points
are called the foci of the ellipse.
PARTS OF AN ELLIPSE:
(1) An ellipse has two axes of
symmetry. The longer axis is called
the major axis, and the shorter axis
is called the minor axis.
(2) The major axis contains the foci.
Consequently, the foci are inside
the ellipse.
(3) The intersection of the two axes
is called the center of the ellipse.
(4) The ellipse intersects the major
axis in two points called the
vertices of the ellipse.
(5) Segments passing through the
foci of the ellipse that is
perpendicular to the major axis are
called the two latus rectum.
(6) Lines outside the ellipse that is
parallel to the minor axis and has
the same distance from the vertices
as the foci are the two directrices.
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐
Vertical Ellipse
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒃𝟐 𝒂𝟐
KEYNOTES:
(1) 𝒄 = √𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐 and 𝒂 > 𝒃
(2) In the standard equation, if x-
part has a bigger denominator, the
ellipse is horizontal.
(3) If the y-part has the biggest
denominator, the ellipse is vertical.
SUMMARY C(0,0):
Center (0,0) Ellipse with foci Ellipse with foci
on the x-axis on the y-axis
Type Horizontal Vertical
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
Equation + 𝟐=𝟏 + 𝟐=𝟏
𝒂𝟐 𝒃 𝒃 𝟐 𝒂
Vertices (±a, 0) (0, ±a)
Foci (±c, 0) (0, ±c)
Covertices (0,±b) (±b,0)
Major axis
y = 0 or on the x = 0 or on the
x-axis y-axis
Minor axis
x = 0 or on the y = 0 or on the
y-axis x-axis
𝒂𝟐 𝒂𝟐
Directrices x=± y=±
𝒄 𝒄
Latus Rectum x = ±c y = ±c
𝒃𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒃𝟐
Endpoints: (-c,± ) & (c,± ) (± ,-c ) & (± ,c)
𝒂 𝒂 𝒂 𝒂
DISTANCES:
major axis 2a
minor axis 2b
c c = √𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐
𝟐𝒃𝟐
latus rectum LR =
𝒂
√𝒂𝟐 −𝒃𝟐
Eccentricity e=
𝒂
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
(1) + =𝟏
𝟐𝟓 𝟗
𝟐 𝟐
(2) 𝟗𝒙 + 𝟏𝟔𝒚 − 𝟏𝟒𝟒 = 𝟎
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 1.3.4:
Write the equation of the ellipse
with center at the origin that
satisfies the given conditions.
Draw the ellipse, its foci, and
directrices.
(1) The foci have coordinates
(±4,0) and a vertex at (5,0).
(2) The length of the latus rectum
𝟖
is and the vertices have
𝟓
coordinates (0,-5) and (5,0).
(𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐
Vertical
C(h,k)
(𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒃𝟐 𝒂𝟐
SUMMARY C(h,k):
Ellipse with foci Ellipse with foci
Center (h,k) on a line parallel on a line parallel
to the x-axis to the y-axis
Type Horizontal Vertical
(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚 − 𝒌)𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚 − 𝒌)𝟐
Equation + =𝟏 + =𝟏
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒃𝟐 𝒂𝟐
Vertices ( h±a, k ) ( h, k±a )
Foci ( h±c, k ) ( h, k±c )
Covertices ( h, k±b ) ( h±b, k )
Major axis y=k x=h
Minor axis x=h y=k
(𝒙+𝟑)𝟐 (𝒚−𝟓)𝟐
(1) + =𝟏
𝟐𝟒 𝟒𝟗
(2) 𝟗𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝒚𝟐 − 𝟏𝟐𝟔𝒙 + 𝟔𝟒𝒚 = 𝟕𝟏
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 1.3.6:
The foci of an ellipse are (-3,-6)
and (-3,2). For any point on the
ellipse, the sum of its distances
from foci is 4. Find the standard
equation of the elipse.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE 1.3.7:
An ellipse has vertices (𝟐 − √𝟔𝟏, −𝟓)
and (𝟐 + √𝟔𝟏, −𝟓), and its minor
axis is 12 units long. Find the
standard equation and its foci.