Pre-Calculus

Quarter 1 - Module 3:
Ellipse
Pre-Calculus
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 - Module 3: Ellipse
First Edition, 2020

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 Pre-Calculus
Quarter 1 - Module 3:
Ellipse
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Pre-Calculus Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Ellipse!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both
from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping
the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming
their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

ii
For the learner:

Welcome to the Pre-Calculus Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Ellipse!

The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a learner
is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and
skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of the

lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or skill
into real life situations or concerns.

iii
 Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your
level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the
lesson learned. This also tends retention of
learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in developing

this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

iv
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master Pre-Calculus. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different
learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But
the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you
are now using.

The module is focused on Ellipse.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define an ellipse; and
2. graph an ellipse given an equation in standard form.

1
 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. What is the major axis and its length for the ellipse with the equation
1 2 9 1
9
𝑥 + 25 𝑦 2 = 25?

A. The major axis is the y axis and its length is equal to 4a = 7/15 = 1.5
B. The major axis is the x axis and its length is equal to 3a = 6/5 = 1.2
C. The major axis is the y axis and its length is equal to 2a = 6/5 = 1.2
D. The major axis is the x axis and its length is equal to 2a = 6/5 = 1.2

2. Find the major and minor axis of the ellipse given the equation
8x 2 + 2y 2 = 32.
A. The length of the major axis: 2a = 16;
the length of the minor axis: 2b = 8
B. The length of the major axis: 2a = 8;
the length of the minor axis: 2b = 4
C. The length of the major axis: 2a = 64;
the length of the minor axis: 2b = 24
D. The length of the major axis: 2a = 81;
the length of the minor axis: 2b = 27

3. Find the equation of the ellipse whose center is the origin of the axes and has a
focus at (0 , -4) and a vertex at (0 , -6).

𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
A. 20
+ 36
=1 C. 24
+ 49
=1

𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
B + =1 D. + =1
25 𝑏2 25 16

4. Find the equation of the ellipse whose foci are at (0 , -5) and (0 , 5) and the
length of its major axis is 14.

𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
A. 20
+ 36
=1 C. 24
+ 49
=1

𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
B + =1 D. + =1
25 𝑏2 25 16

5. Find the equation of the ellipse whose foci are at (-1 , 0) and (3 , 0) and the
length of its minor axis is 2.
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 9𝑦 2
A. 9
+
4
= 1 C.
16
+
80
= 1

(𝑥−2)2 𝑥2 𝑦2
B. 2
+ 𝑦2 = 1 D. 2
+ 4
=1

2
 Lesson

1 Ellipse

Ellipse is a set of all points in a plane, the sum of its distances from two fixed
points is constant. The fixed point is called the foci of the ellipse. The line through them
is sometimes called focal axis. The points where the ellipse crosses its focal axes is
called vertices while the line segment joining the two vertices is called the major axis.
The chord of an ellipse passing through the center and perpendicular to the major axis
is what we call minor axis, while the eccentricity of the ellipse is from 0 to 1 that is 0 <
e < 1.

Consider the points F1(3, 0) and F2(-3, 0), as shown in Figure below. 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? Teaching Notes You may review the distance
AF1 + AF2 = 7 formula. .4+2.6 = 10 BF1 + BF2 = 3.8+6.2 = 10 CF1 + CF2 = 5 + 5 = 10
There are other points P such that P F1 + P F2 = 10. The collection of all such points
forms a shape called an ellipse.

F F

F1 F2

P
PF1 + PF2 = 2a

3
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).

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 P F1 + P F2 = 2a.

PF1 = 2a – PF

√( 𝑥 + 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2 = 2a – √( 𝑥 − 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2

x2 +2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4a2 – 4a √( 𝑧 − 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 − 2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐 2 + 𝑦 2

𝑎2 √( 𝑥 − 𝑐)2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑐𝑥

𝑎2 [𝑥 2 − 2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐 2 + 𝑦 2 ] = 𝑎4 − 2𝑎2 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐 2 𝑥 2

(𝑎2 − 𝑐 2 ) 𝑥 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 = 𝑎4 − 𝑎2 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 ( 𝑎2 − 𝑐 2 )

𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 𝑏 2 by letting b = √𝑎2 − 𝑎2 , a > b

𝑥2 𝑦2
+ = 1
𝑎2 𝑏2

4
 What’s In

To determine the equation of an ellipse in standard form, use the following equations
depending on position of the major axis.
When center is at (0,0)
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ = 1, major axis coincides the x-axis; a>b
𝑎2 𝑏2

𝑥2 𝑦2
𝑏2
+ 𝑎2
= 1 , major axis coincides the y-axis; b>a

When center is at (h,k)

(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
𝑎2
+ 𝑏2
= 1, major axis coincides the x-axis; a>b

(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
𝑏2
+ 𝑎2
= 1 , major axis coincides the y-axis; b>a

In the standard equation, if the x-part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse is
horizontal. If the y-part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse is vertical.

General Equation for Translation of Ellipse

Vertical Major Axis

( 𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 ( 𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
+ = 1
𝒃𝟐 𝒂𝟐

In the equation, the denominator under the x2 term is the square of the x coordinate
at the x-axis.

Horizontal Major Axis

( 𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 ( 𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
+ = 1
𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐

The denominator under the y2 term is the square of the y coordinate at the y-axis.

5
Example 1:

Determine the values of a and b for the equation of the ellipse below?

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ = 1
?𝟐 ?𝟐

Since the ellipse is in vertical major axis the value and b from the equation

( 𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 ( 𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
+ = 1
𝒃𝟐 𝒂𝟐
is

a=2 ; b=3

Example 2: What are values of a and b for the standard form equation of the ellipse in
the graph?

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ = 1
?𝟐 ?𝟐

Since the ellipse is in horizon major axis, the value and b from the equation

( 𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 ( 𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
+ = 1
𝒃𝟐 𝒂𝟐
is

a=3 ; b=2

6
 Notes to the Teacher
Some ellipses have their foci aligned vertically, and some have centers
not at the origin. Their standard equations and properties are given in
the above illustrations. The derivations are more involved, but are
similar to the one above, and so are not shown anymore.

What’s New

In the standard equation, if the x-part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse
is horizontal. If the y-part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse is vertical.
Example 1.

Find the standard equation of the ellipse if the foci are located at (-3, -6) and (-3, 2)
and the sum of its distance from foci is 14.
Solution:
Given the location of the foci, we say that the ellipse is vertical since the foci are
vertically aligned, where c = 4. Given the sum 2a = 14, we say that a = 7.
Since 𝑏 = √𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 = √33. We can say that the standard equation is
(𝑥 + 3)2 (𝑦 + 2)2
+
33 49

Example 2: What are values of a and b for the standard form equation of the ellipse

given the graph?

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ = 1
?𝟐 ?𝟐
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ = 1
𝟑𝟐 𝟐𝟐
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
+ = 1
𝟗 𝟒

7
 What is It

An ellipse can be described as a stretched-out circle. You can picture two people
pulling at either end of a circle and stretching it out. Or you can picture two dogs
playing tug-of-war with a circular disk. Whichever way, ellipses are important to
learn in math because they are also a conic section, meaning, you can get an ellipse
by slicing a cone. Slice an ice cream waffle cone at an angle and you will have an
ellipse.

Just like with circles, an ellipse has a center. But unlike circles, an ellipse has
two different measurements for its radius, which is the distance from the edge to the
center. Notice how an ellipse is longer in one direction than the other? Because of
this, an ellipse will have a radius measurement for one direction and another radius
measurement for the other direction. Our equation of an ellipse takes into
( 𝒙−𝒉)𝟐 ( 𝒚−𝒌)𝟐
consideration all of these measurements. Our equation is 𝒃𝟐
+ 𝒂𝟐
= 1, where
(h, k) is the center of our ellipse, a is the radius in the horizontal direction, and b is
the radius in the vertical direction. Notice that there is always a plus in between
the x and y parts of the equation and that the equation always equals 1.

8
 What’s More

Let's see how we can use this equation to help us graph an ellipse. Say we want
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
to graph the equation 𝟗
+ 𝟒
= 1. First, we notice that the center of our ellipse
is located at (0, 0) since there are no numbers being subtracted or added to our x or y.
Next, we figure out how far out our ellipse edges will go. If a2 is 4, so that means a is 2.
If a is equal 2, then that means the ellipse moves out 2 spaces from the center to the
left and 2 spaces from the center to the right. Then, b2 is 9, which means that b is equal
to 3. Since b is 3, then we draw 3 steps above from the center and 3 steps below down
from the center. We can refer to the example 2 illustrations of what’s new.

What I Have Learned

 The major axis is the segment that contains both foci and has its endpoints on
the ellipse. These endpoints are called the vertices. The midpoint of the major
axis is the center of the ellipse.

 The minor axis is perpendicular to the major axis at the center, and the
endpoints of the minor axis are called co-vertices.

 An ellipse is a curve that is the locus of all points in the plane the sum of whose
distances and from two fixed points and (the foci) separated by a
distance of is a given positive constant (Hilbert and Cohn-Vossen 1999,
p. 2)

 The ellipse can also be defined as the locus of points whose distance from
the focus is proportional to the horizontal distance from a vertical line known as
the conic section directrix, where the ratio is . Letting be the ratio and the
distance from the center at which the directrix lies, then in order for this to be
true, it must hold at the extremes of the major and minor axes

9
 What I Can Do

An ellipse with center at the origin (0,0), is the graph of

with a > b > 0

The length of the major axis is 2a, and the length of the minor axis is 2b. The two foci

(foci is the plural of focus) are at (±c , 0) or at (0 , ± c), where c2 = a2 - b2.

Given the following equation

9x2 + 4y2 = 36
a) Find the x and y intercepts of the graph of the equation.
b) Find the coordinates of the foci.
c) Find the length of the major and minor axes.
d) Sketch the graph of the equation.
Solution:
We first write the given equation in standard form by dividing both sides of the
equation by 36 and simplify
9𝑥 2 4𝑦 2
+ = 1
36 36
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ = 1
4 9
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
22 32
We now identify the equation obtained with one of the standard equation in the review
above and we can say that the given equation is that of an ellipse with a = 3 and b = 2
NOTE: a > b
Set y = 0 in the equation obtained and find the x intercepts.

𝑥2
=1
22

Solve for x.
x2 = 22
x=±2

Set x = 0 in the equation obtained and find the y intercepts.

y2 / 32 = 1

10
 Solve for y.
y2 = 32
y = ±3
b) We need to find c first.
c2 = a2 - b2
a and b were found in part a)
c2 = 32 - 22
c2 = 5
Solve for c to obtain
c = ± (5)1/2
The foci are F1 (0 , √5) and F2 (0 , - √5 )
c) The major axis length is given by 2a = 6
The minor axis length is given by 2b = 4
d) Locate the x and y intercepts, find extra points if needed and sketch.

11
 Assessment

A. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.

A. Problems 1-5, find the equation of the ellipse satisfying the following conditions:
1. Foci: (±2, 0) one vertex (3,0)
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
A. 𝟒
+ 𝟓
= 1 C. 𝟐
+ 𝟒
= 1

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
B. 𝟗
+ 𝟓
= 1 D. 𝟑
+ 𝟒
= 1

2. Major axis 6: latus rectum 4; foci on the x-axis

A. 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 = 54 C. 12𝑥 2 + 18𝑦 2 = 54
B. 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑦 2 = 54 D. 9𝑥 2 + 18𝑦 2 = 54

2
3. Vertices (±4, 0); eccentricity
3
𝒙𝟐 𝟗𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝟗𝒚𝟐
A. 𝟏𝟔
+ 𝟖𝟎
= 1 C. 𝟏𝟔
+ 𝟖𝟎
= 1

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝟗𝒚𝟐
B. 𝟗
+ 𝟒
= 1 D. 𝟒
+ 𝒃
= 1

4. Minor axis 4; latus rectum 3; foci on the x-axis

A. 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 = 24 C. 4𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 = 15
B. 12𝑥 2 + 18𝑦 2 = 18 D. 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 = 12

5. Distance between foci 2; directrix 8

A. 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 = 56 C. 7𝑥 2 + 8𝑦 2 = 56
𝐵. 12𝑥 2 + 18𝑦 2 = 45 D. 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 = 12

B. Problems 6-9, find the vertices, foci, and length of the latus rectum.

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
6. + = 1
𝟒 𝟏𝟔

12
 A. Vertices: (0, ±4); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: 2
B. Vertices: (0, ±3); foci: (0, ±√10); LR: 2
C. Vertices: (±2, ±4); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: 2
D. Vertices: (±3, ±4); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: 2

𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
7. + = 1
𝟗 𝟒

A. Vertices: (0, ±4); foci: (0, ±√15)

B. Vertices: (0, ±4); foci: (0, ±√8)
C. Vertices: (0, ±4); foci: (0, ±√12)
D. Vertices: (0, ±4); foci: (0, ±√7)

𝒚𝟐
8. 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒
= 1

A. Vertices: (0, ±1); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: 1

B. Vertices: (0, ±2); foci: (0, ±√3); LR: 1
C. Vertices: (0, ±3); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: 1
D. Vertices: (0, ±4); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: 1

9. 9𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 = 36
8
A. Vertices: (0, ±1); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: : 3
2
B. Vertices: (0, ±2); foci: (0, ±√3); LR: : 3
8
C. Vertices: (0, ±3); foci: (0, ±√5); LR: 3
8
D. Vertices: (0, ±4); foci: (0, ±√12); LR: : 3

10. Find the points of intersection of the line x + y = 1 and the ellipse 36x2 + 9y2
= 36.

3 8 5 7 6
A. (1, 0) ; (− 5 , 5) C. (2 , √3); (9 , 5)

B. (0, √3); (0, −√3) D. (3, 5); (5, -3)

13
14
Assessment
1. B 6. A
2. A 7. D
3. A 8. B
4. D 9. C
5. C 10. A
What I Know
1. D
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. b
Answer Key
References

https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Ellipse.html

https://onlinemschool.com/math/formula/ellipse/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse

15
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