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Find an equation of the ellipse with foci

(−1, 1), (−1, 3) and length of minor axis
4 .

Question:
Find an equation of the ellipse with foci (−1, 1), (−1, 3) and length of minor axis 4.

Ellipse:

Ellipse is one type of conic section enclosed by two focal points. If a plane cuts at an angle with
its base, an ellipse is created. The standard form of an ellipse with center at the point (0, 0) is
as follows:
2 2
x y

2
+
2
= 1 (Major axis =x-axis and a > b .)
a b

2 2
x y

2
+
2
= 1 (Major axis =y-axis and a > b .)
b a

 Answer and Explanation:

The foci of the ellipse are (−1, 1) , (−1, 3) and the length of the minor axis is 4.

The objective is to determine the equation of the ellipse.

Consider the equation of the ellipse as:

2 2
(x − h) (y − k)
+ = 1
2 2
a b
Here, (h, k) is the center and b, a are the lengths of the semi-major and the semi-minor axis
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respectively.
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The foci always lie on the major axis. As the foci points are at (−1, 1) , (−1, 3), the major axis
is parallel to the y-axis. Therefore, the length of the major axis and the minor axis are 2b and
2a respectively.

As per the given information 2a = 4 .

Therefore, a = 2

The formula regarding foci is given by the equation (h, k ± c). It has been stated that the foci
are at points (−1, 1) , (−1, 3).

Comparing (h, k ± c) and points (−1, 1) , (−1, 3), so the calculation performed is as follows:

h = −1

And,

k + c = 3

k − c = 1

Adding the equations, k + c = 3 and k − c = 1 , we get:

k + c + k − c = 3 + 1

2k = 4

k = 2

Plugging k = 2 in k + c = 3 , the value obtained is as follows:

2 + c = 3

c = 1
Solving the above we get, k = 2, c = 1 .
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Here, c is the focal distance of an ellipse denoted by the following expression:

2 2
c = √a − b

Therefore, we can write the value of b as follows:

2 2 2
c = b − a
2 2 2
(1) = b − 2

2
b = 4 + 1
2
b = 5

Further solving:
2
b = 5

b = ±√ 5

Finally, substitute the values obtained into the equation for an ellipse with the equation
2 2
(x − h) (y − k)

2
+
2
= 1 as follows:
a b

2 2
(x − (−1)) (y − 2)
+ = 1
2 2
2
(√5)
.
2 2
(x + 1) (y − 2)
+ = 1
4 5

2 2
(x + 1) (y − 2)
Thus, the equation of the ellipse is + = 1 .
4 5

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