Ellipse

Standard Equation of the Ellipse

1. Ellipse x2
+
y2
1, where b2 = a2 (1 – e2)
=
2 2
a b
The condition for second degree equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + Since e < 1, therefore a2(1 – e2) < a2 ⇒ b2 < a2
2gx + 2fy + c = 0 to represent an ellipse is that h2 – ab < 0 and
D = abc + 2fgh – af2 – bg2 – ch2 ≠ 0

2. Ellipse— Basic fundamentals

 x 2 y 2 
Equation  2+ 2 = 1
 a b 

For a > b For b > a

Centre (0, 0) (0, 0)

Vertices (±a, 0) (0, ±b)

Length of major axis 2a 2b

Length of minor axis 2b 2a

Foci (±a, 0) (0, ±b)

Equation of directrices x = ±a/e y = ±b/e

Relation in a, b and e b2 = a2 (1 – e2) a2 = b2 (1 – e2)

Length of latus rectum 2b 2 2a 2

a b

Ends of latus rectum  b2   a2 

 ±ae , ±  ± , ±be 
 a   b 
   

Parametric equations (acosf, bsinf) (acosf, bsinf) (0 ≤ f < 2p)

Focal radii SP = a – ex1 and S’P = a + ex1 SP = b – ey1 and S’P = b + ey1

Sum of focal radii SP + S’P = 2a 2b

Distance between foci 2ae 2be

Distance between directrices 2a/e 2b/e

Tangents at the vertices x = –a, x = a y = b, y = –b

 Concyclic Points
3. Parametric form of the
Ellipse
If circle intersects an ellipse in four points. They are called
concyclic points and the sum of their eccentric angles is an
even multiple p.
For the equation of ellipse in standard form the parametric
form will be given by taking x = acosf, y = bsinf, where f is the
x2 y2
eccentric angle, in 2 + 2 = 1
a b

4. Special forms of an Ellipse

If a, b, g, d be the eccentric angles of the four points P, Q, R, S of
circle intersect an ellipse then, a + b + g + d = 2np, where n is any
integer.
1. If the centre of the ellipse is at point (h, k) and the directions of
the axes are parallel to the coordinate axes, then its equation
( x − h ) + (y − k )
2 2

8.
is 1.
=
a2 b2 Equations of Tangent in
If we shift the origin at (h, k) without rotating the coordinate Different Forms
axes, then x = X + h and y = Y + k.

1. Point form: The equation of the tangent to the ellipse

(lx + my + n ) + (mx − ly + p )
2 2

2. If the equation of the curve is =1 x2 y2 xx 1 yy 1

a 2
b 2 + =1 at the point (x1 , y1) is + = 1
a2 b2 a2 b2
where lx + my + n = 0 and mx – ly + p = 0 are perpendicular
Note: Point of intersection of tangent drawn at point q and f on
lx + my + n mx − ly + p x2 y2
lines, then we substitute= X= , Y , to put + =1 is
l 2 + m2 l 2 + m2 a2 b2
the equation in the standard form.  θ +φ  θ +φ  
 acos   bsin  
  2 ,  2 
 θ −φ  θ −φ  
 cos   cos  
5.
2  
Position of a Point with   2  

Respect to an Ellipse 2. Slope from: If the line y = mx + c touches the ellipse

x2
+
y2
1
=
a2 b2
x2 y2 mx ± a 2m 2 + b 2
then c2 = a2m2 + b2. Hence, the straight line y =
Let P(x1, y1) be any point and let + 1 is the equation of
=
a2 b2 always represents the tangents to ellipse.
an ellipse. The point lies outside, on or inside the ellipse as if
x 12 y 12
S1 = + − 1 > 0, = 0, < 0. mx ± a 2m 2 + b 2 touches the ellipse
Points of contact: Line y =
a2 b2
x2 y2  −a 2m b 2 
+ 1 at 
= ,  where c2 = a2m2 + b2
a 2
b 2  c c 
 

6.
3. Parametric form: The equation of tangent at any point
Auxiliary Circle x y
f(acosf, bsinf) is cosφ + sinφ =
1.
a b

The circle described on the major of axis of an ellipse as diameter

9.
is called an auxiliary circle of the ellipse.

If
x2
+
y2
1 is an ellipse, then its auxiliary circle is a2 + y2 = a2.
=
Pair of Tangents
2 2
a b

Equation of Pair of Tangents SS1 = T 2

7. Equation of the Chord Joining
Two Points on an Ellipse
Pair of tangents: Let P(x1, y1) be any point lying outside the ellipse
x2 y2
+ 1 and let a pair of tangents PA, PB can be drawn to it from P.
=
a2 b2
The equation of the chord joining two points having
Then the equation of pair of tangents PA and PB is SS1 = T 2
x2 y2 Where
eccentric angles q and f on the ellipse + 1 is
=
a2 b2
x θ +φ  y θ +φ  θ −φ  x2 y2 x 12 y 12 xx 1 yy 1
cos   + sin  =cos  . S≡ + − 1 , S1 ≡ + −1, T ≡ + −1
a  2  b  2   2  a 2
b 2
a 2
b 2
a 2
b2
10. Director Circle 13. Reflection Property of
an Ellipse
Let S and S’ be the foci and PN the normal at the point P of the
The director circle is the locus of points from which perpendicular ellipse, then ∠SPS’ = ∠SQS’. Hence, if an incoming light ray aimed
tangents are drawn to the ellipse. towards one focus strike the concave side of the mirror in the
equation of director circle is shape of an ellipse, then it will be reflected towards the other
x2 + y2 = a2 + b2, focus.

It is circle concentric with ellipse and has radius a2 + b2 .

11. Equations of Normal in

Different Forms
1. Point form: The equation of the normal at (x1, y1) to the ellipse
x2 y2 a 2 x b 2y
+ 1 is
= − =a2 − b2 .
a2 b2 x1 y1
2. Parametric form: The equation of the normal to the ellipse
x2 y2
+ 1 at (acosf, bsinf) is axsecf – bycosecf = a2 – b2.
=
2 2
a b
3. Slope form: If m is the slope of the normal to the ellipse
x2 y2
14. Chord of Contact
+ =1, then the equation of normal is
a2 b2

=y mx ±
m a2 − b2 ( ) If PQ and PR be the tangents through point P(x1 , y1) to the ellipse
a 2 + b 2m 2 x2 y2
+ 1, then the equation of the chord of contact QR is
=
a2 b2

12.
xx 1 yy 1
Properties of Eccentric Angles a2
+
a2
1 or T = 0 at (x1 , y1).
=

of the Co-normal Points

1. The sum of the eccentric angles of the co-normal points on Equation of Chord with Mid-Point (x1 , y1)
x2 y2 x2 y2
the ellipse of 2 + 2 = 1 is equal to odd multiple of p. 1, whose mid-
The equation of the chord of the ellipse 2 + 2 =
a b point be (x1 , y1) is T = S1 , where a b
2. If a, b, g are the eccentric angles of three points on the
xx 1 yy 1 x 12 y 12
ellipse, the normals at which are concurrent, then sin(a + b) T= + 1 0, S=
−= + 1 0.
−=
1
+ sin (b + g) + sin (g + a) = 0. a2 b2 a2 b2