LESSON 4 : ELLIPSE

Instructor: Mattheus Marcus Contreras

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Define an ellipse
• Determine the standard forms of equation of an ellipse
• Graph an ellipse in a rectangular coordinate system
• Solve problems involving ellipse
What is an Ellipse?
Why is it important?
Where are the Ellipses?
Ellipse = oval or sometimes an oblong
Can you think of two things
that look like an ellipse?
FORMAL DEFINITIONS
Ellipse
DEFINITIONS
• Double-Napped Cone Definition
• An ellipse is formed when the vertex angle is less
than the angle of the cutting plane with the axis.
• Note : An ellipse will become a circle when the
plane forms a right angle with the axis.
DEFINITIONS
• Locus Definition
• The ellipse is defined as
the locus of a point which moves
in a plane such that the sum of its
distances from the two points
called foci add up to a
constant(greater than the
distance between the said foci).
(PF1 + PF2 = K)

• It can also be defined as a conic

where the eccentricity is less
than one. (e < 1)
SIMULATION
Link :
https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/LocusOfPointsDefinitionOfAnEllip
seHyperbolaParabolaAndOvalOf/
Give the locus definition of
an ellipse.
Elements of an Ellipse
ELEMENTS OF AN ELLIPSE
1) Center
• Middle point of the Ellipse
• Notation: C(h,k)

2) Major axis
• longest segment that runs through the center of
the ellipse.
• Determines the orientation of the ellipse.
• The endpoints of the major axis on the ellipse are
called vertices.
• Notation: a = distance from the center to a vertex.
ELEMENTS OF AN ELLIPSE
3) Minor axis
• segment that runs through the center of the ellipse
and is perpendicular to the major axis
• The endpoints of the minor axis on the ellipse are
called co-vertices.
• Notation: b = distance from the center to a co-
vertex.
ELEMENTS OF AN ELLIPSE
4) Foci
• determine the flatness or roundness of the ellipse.
• To find the focal distance (c):
𝒄= 𝒂 𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐

• NOTATION:
𝑭𝟏&𝟐 (𝒉 ± 𝒄, 𝒌) if major axis is horizontal
𝑭𝟏&𝟐 (𝒉, 𝒌 ± 𝒄) if major axis is vertical
ELEMENTS OF AN ELLIPSE
5) Latera Recta
• chords perpendicular to the major
axis and going through the foci; their
length is 2b2 /a.
• To find the end points of latera recta
in the ellipse, simply add and
subtract b2/a to the foci.
• Notation: L(x,y)
ELEMENTS OF AN ELLIPSE
5) Directrices
• Two parallel fixed lines on the outside of
an ellipse perpendicular to the major axis.
• Notations:
𝑎2
𝑥= ℎ± 𝑐 if major axis is horizontal
𝑎2
𝑦= 𝑘± 𝑐 if major axis is vertical
Standard Forms of the Ellipse
STANDARD FORMS OF ELLIPSE
I. Major axis is Horizontal
𝒙−𝒉 𝟐 𝒚−𝒌 𝟐

𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒂 𝒃𝟐
II. Major axis is Vertical
𝒚−𝒌 𝟐 𝒙−𝒉 𝟐

𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒂 𝒃𝟐

Note that a>b since a is the length of semi-major axis.

 𝒙−𝒉 𝟐 𝒚−𝒌 𝟐
FORM: 𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝟏
𝒂 𝒃
Center: C(h,k) Endpoints of Latera Recta:
𝑏2
Orientation : Horizontal 𝐿1&2 ℎ + 𝑐, 𝑘 ±
𝑎
Length of Mj. Axis : 2a 𝑏2
𝐿3&4 ℎ − 𝑐, 𝑘 ±
Length of Mn. Axis : 2b 𝑎
𝟐 𝟐 Equations of Directrices:
Focal Distance : 𝒄 = 𝒂 − 𝒃
𝑎2 𝑎2
Foci : F1(h+c, k) and F2(h-c,k) 𝑥1 = ℎ + 𝑐 and 𝑥2 = ℎ − 𝑐

Vertices: 𝑽𝟏&𝟐 (𝒉 ± 𝒂, 𝒌)
Co-vertices: 𝑽𝟑&𝟒 (𝒉, 𝒌 ± 𝒃)
 𝒚−𝒌 𝟐 𝒙−𝒉 𝟐
FORM: 𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝟏
𝒂 𝒃
Center: C(h,k) Endpoints of Latera Recta:
𝑏2
Orientation : Vertical 𝐿1&2 ℎ, ± , 𝑘 + 𝑐
𝑎
Length of Mj. Axis : 2a 𝑏2
𝐿3&4 ℎ, ± , 𝑘 − 𝑐
Length of Mn. Axis : 2b 𝑎
𝟐 𝟐 Equations of Directrices:
Focal Distance : 𝒄 = 𝒂 − 𝒃
𝑎2 𝑎2
Foci : F1(h, k+c) and F2(h,k-c) 𝑦1 = 𝑘 + 𝑐 and 𝑦2 = 𝑘 − 𝑐

Vertices: 𝑽𝟏&𝟐 (𝒉, 𝒌 ± 𝒂)

Co-vertices: 𝑽𝟑&𝟒 (𝒉 ± 𝒃, 𝒌)
 NOTE: The most important
elements are the center and the
lengths a and b.
EXAMPLE NO. 1
ELLIPSE
EXAMPLE
Graph the equation :
𝟐 𝟐
𝒙−𝟏 𝒚
+ =𝟏
𝟏𝟔 𝟗
EXAMPLE NO. 2
ELLIPSE
EXAMPLE
Graph the equation :
𝟐 𝟐
𝒙+𝟏 (𝒚 − 𝟏)
+ =𝟏
𝟗 𝟐𝟓
EXAMPLE NO. 3
ELLIPSE
EXAMPLE
Find the standard equation of the ellipse with its center at the origin, a
focus at (4,0) and vertices at 𝑉1&2 (±5,0)
EXAMPLE NO. 4
ELLIPSE
EXAMPLE
Find the standard equation of the ellipse with its center at the origin, a
length of minor axis is 6 and Foci are at 𝐹(0, ±2)
END OF LESSON 4
THANK YOU!