Pre-Calculus SHS

Activity Sheet No. 1

Name: ___________________Grade& Sec. _____________Date:______

Learning Competencies&Code: The learners define an ellipse . STEM_PC11AG-Ic-1

The learner graph the ellipse given an equation in Standard
form STEM_PC11AG-Ic-2
Lesson/Topic: Definition and Properties of Ellipse.
Objectives: At the end of this activity the students will be able to:
1. define Ellipse;
2. solve problems related to Ellipse; and
3. graph the ellipse.
References: M. Sullivan (2012), Algebra & Trigonometry, Pearson Education,
Inc.,
C. Young (2012), Algebra and Trigonometry, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.,
Love and Rainville (2000), Analytic Geometry 6th ed,
Kern and Bland (2005), Plane Trigonometry w/ spherical
Trigonometry 3rd edition.
PNU- DepEd (2016), Pre- calculus Teaching Guide.

Introduction to Ellipse
An ellipse is one of the conic sections that most students have not encountered
formally before based on the curriculum of k-12, unlike circles and parabolas. Its
shape is a bounded curve which looks like a flattened circle. The orbits of the
planets in our solar system around the sun happen to be elliptical in shape. Also,
just like parabolas, ellipses have reflective properties that have been used in the
construction of certain structures. We will see some properties of ellipses in this
section.

Definition of Ellipse
Consider the points F1(3,0) and F2(3,0), as shown in Figure below. By using
distance formula, what is the sum of the distances of A (4,2.4) from F1 and from F2?
How about the sum of the distances of B (and C (0,4)) from F1 and from F2?
AF1 + AF2 =7 .4+2 .6 = 10
BF1 + BF2 =3 .8+6 .2 = 10
CF1 + CF2 = 5 + 5 = 10
There are another points P such that PF1 + PF2 = 10. The collection of all such
points forms a shape called an ellipse.

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Let F1 and F2 be two distinct points. The set of all points P, whose distances from F1
and from F2 add up to a certain constant, is called an ellipse. The points F1 and F2
are called the foci of the ellipse.
Given are two points on the x-axis, F1(c,0) and F2(c,0), the foci, both c units away
from their center (0,0). See Figure on the right. Let P (x,y) be a point on the ellipse.
Let the common sum of the distances be 2a (the coefficient 2 will make computations
simpler). Thus, we have PF1 + PF2 =2a.

First let PF2 transpose on the other side then applying the distance formula to
evaluate

P𝐹1 = 2a − P𝐹2
𝑐)2
√(𝑥 + + 𝑦 2 = 2a − √(𝑥 − 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2
Squaring both sides
𝑥 2 + 2cx + 𝑐 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎2 − 4𝑎√(𝑥 − 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 − 2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐 2 + 𝑦 2
Cancel all similar terms and divide both sides by 4
4cx − 4𝑎2 = −4𝑎√(𝑥 − 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2
cx − 𝑎2 = −𝑎√(𝑥 − 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2
Square Both Sides
𝑐 2 𝑥 2 − 2cx𝑎2 + 𝑎4 = 𝑎2 (𝑥 2 − 2cx + 𝑐 2 + 𝑦 2 )
𝑐 𝑥 − 2cx𝑎2 + 𝑎4 = 𝑎2 𝑥 2 − 2cx𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 𝑎2 + 𝑦 2 𝑎2 )
2 2

Cancel all similar terms and group them

(𝑎2 − 𝑐 2 )𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑎2 = 𝑎2 (𝑎2 − 𝑐 2 )
Let 𝑏 = √𝑎 − 𝑐 , in this case a>b, hence
2 2

𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑎2 = 𝑎2 𝑏 2
When we let 𝑏 = √𝑎2 − 𝑐 2 , we assumed a>c. To see why this is true, look at ∆P𝐹1 𝐹2 in
Figure on the right. By the Triangle Inequality, PF1 + PF2 > F1F2, which implies
2a>2c, so a > c.

Divide both sides by 𝑎2 𝑏 2, we derived the standard equation of ellipse at center C

(0,0)
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐

The standard equation of ellipse given at center C (h, k) is given as

(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚 − 𝒌)𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐
Where a > b. Let 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 .

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Parts of the Ellipse
(1) Center: origin C (0 ,0)
(2) Foci: F1(-c,0) and F2(c,0)
• Each focus is c units away from the center.
• For any point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances from the foci is 2a.
(3) Vertices: V1(-a,0) and V2(a,0)
• The vertices are points on the ellipse, collinear with the center and foci.
• If y = 0, then x =±a. Each vertex is a unit away from the center.
• The segment V1V2 is called the major axis. Its length is 2a. It divides the ellipse
into two congruent parts.
(4) Covertices: W1(0,b) and W2(0,b)
• The segment through the center, perpendicular to the major axis, is the minor
axis. It meets the ellipse at the covertices. It divides the ellipse into two congruent
parts.
• If x = 0, then y =±b. Each covertex is b units away from the center.
• The minor axis W1W2 is 2b units long. Since a>b, the major axis is longer than the
minor axis.
(5) Eccentricity: In ellipse, it is important to know the eccentricity of an ellipse to
know how stretched the ellipse. It is defined as the ratio of the length from the
𝑐
center to each focus to the semi major axis as mathematically defined as; 𝑒 = , as
𝑎
we observe then the 2 foci combine the eccentricity will be 0 resulted as a circle.
The eccentricity of the ellipse values from 0<e<1.

a= semi major axis

b= semi minor axis
C= center at (0,0)
C= distance from the center
to every focus
F1 and F2 = Foci, always located on the major axis

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More Properties of Ellipse

Some ellipses have their foci aligned vertically, and some have centers not at the
origin. Their standard equations and properties are given in the box. The
derivations are more involved, but are like the one above, and so are not shown
anymore.

Major axis: Horizontal Major Axis: Vertical

Minor axis: Vertical Minor Axis: Horizontal

Note: the formula for the eccentricity is still the same

• a is still the semi major axis and b is still the semi major axis
• where (h,k) is the center

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
General to Standard Equation of Ellipse
In determining the General equation of an Ellipse, there are two forms of equation
and we can easily inspect the orientation when the different coefficient is given the
ff:
Major Axis General Equation of the Ellipse
Horizontal 𝐴𝑥 2 + By 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
If B > A
Vertical 2 2
𝐴𝑥 + By + Dx + Ey + F = 0
If A > B
Observe that in ellipse the A and B are always positive if they are both negative just
manipulate. And based on observations derived it is a table we can easily determine
the orientation of the ellipse

Examples:
1. Give the coordinates of the center, foci, vertices, and covertices of the ellipse
with the given equation. Sketch the graph and include these points and solve
the eccentricity
(x+3)2 (y−5)2
a. 24
+ 49
=1
b. 9𝑥 + 16𝑦 − 126𝑥 + 64𝑦 − 71
2 2

Solution:
a. Since a2= 49, a=7 based on the location of the semi major axis it is vertical
next is b2=24 , resulted to 𝑏 = 2√6 approximate 4.9 and
𝑐 2√7
𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 ; 𝑐 = √49 − 24 = 5, the eccentricity is given as 𝑒 = = less than
𝑎 8
1 as expected.
Center; (-3,5), Foci: F1(-3,0), F2(-3,10)
Vertices: V1(-3,-2), V2(-3,12),Covertices: W1(-7.9,5), W2(1.9,5)

b. First, we need to transform it from general equation to the standard equation

and by inspection on the formula B>A, hence it is expected to be horizontal
based on the table to verify it.
9(𝑥 2 − 14𝑥) + 16(𝑦 2 + 4𝑦) = 71

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After regrouping we need to apply the completing the squares, since we are
completing the square one rule in equations, what you add on the other side
must be the same on the other side.
9(𝑥 2 − 14𝑥 + 49) + 16(𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 + 4) = 71 + 9(49) + 16(4)

9(𝑥 − 7)2 + 16(𝑦 + 2)2 = 576

Divide both sides by 576 have the result equation
(𝑥 − 7)2 (𝑦 + 2)2
+ =1
64 36
By inspection, applying the first example we know that a=8, b=6 and 𝑐 = 2√7
Our proof in the table satisfy indicating that it is on the horizonal and should
be applicable in any ellipse equations.
Center; (7,-2)
Foci: F1(1.7,-2), F2(12.3,-2)
Vertices: V1(-1,-2), V2(15,-2)
Covertices: W1(7.-8), W2(7,4)
𝑐 2√7
Computing the eccentricity, 𝑒 = 𝑎 = 8

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The Solve Me!

Part 1: Given the following equations identify the Center, Major and Minor axis
and graph the other parts of the ellipse.
1. 9x2 + 4y2 + 36x - 24y + 36=0
2. 9x2 + 4y2 - 54x + 40y + 37=0
3. 16y2 + 25x2 + 50x - 32y + 16=0
4. 9y2 + 25x2 – 36y – 50x + 60=0

Part 2: Match the following graph on the corresponding equation.

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Investigation on the parameters
DIRECTIONS: Given the parameters given, evaluate the Standard and General
equation and graph the equation

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Reflection:

Strength and Weakness!

In the two box, Identify the Strengths and weakness from the Activity Sheet ans how can you
cope in your weakness. BE HONEST!

STRENGTH WEAKNESS

Prepared By

Anthony V. Abesado