ellipse

ellipse
the set of all points in a plane such that the sum
of its distances from two fixed points on a plane
is consistent.
 B1

V1 F1 C F2 V 2

B2
ellipse
Standard Equations:
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 center: (0,0)
+ 𝟐=𝟏
𝒂 𝟐 𝒃 major axis: horizontal
ellipse
Standard Equations:
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 center: (0,0)
+ 𝟐=𝟏
𝒃𝟐 𝒂 major axis: vertical
 ellipse
Standard Equations:
(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚 − 𝒌)𝟐 center: (h,k)
+ =𝟏
𝒂 𝟐 𝒃𝟐
major axis: horizontal
 ellipse
Standard Equations:
(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 (𝒚 − 𝒌)𝟐 center: (h,k)
+ =𝟏
𝒃𝟐 𝒂 𝟐
major axis: vertical
 Properties:
B1

CV1 = CV2
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 =a
= semimajor axis
B2
 Properties:
B1

CB1 = CB2
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 =b
= semiminor axis
B2
 Properties:
B1

CF1 = CF2
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 =c
= center to focus
B2
 Properties:
B1

2a = V1V2
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 = major axis

B2
 Properties:
B1

2b = B1B2
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 = minor axis

B2
 Properties:
B1

2c = F1F2
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 = focus to focus

B2
 Properties:
B1

a2 = b2 + c2
V1 F1 C F2 V 2

B2
 Properties:
B1
Equations of directrices:
𝑎
𝑥=ℎ±
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 𝑐

B2 Center: (h,k)
Major axis: horizontal
 Properties:
B1
Equations of directrices:
𝑎
𝑦=𝑘±
V1 F1 C F2 V 2 𝑐

B2 Center: (h,k)
Major axis: vertical
Center: (0,0) Ellipse with foci on the x-axis Ellipse with foci on the y-axis

𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1 + =1
Equation 𝑎2 𝑏 2 𝑏 2 𝑎2
where 𝑐 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 and 𝑎 > 𝑏 where 𝑐 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 and 𝑎 > 𝑏

Vertices (±𝑎, 0) (0, ±𝑎)

Foci (±𝑐, 0) (0, ±𝑐)
Equation: 𝑦 = 0 Equation: 𝑥 = 0
Location: x-axis Location: y-axis
Major Axis
Length: 2𝑎 Length: 2𝑎
Endpoints: (±𝑎, 0) Endpoints: (0, ±𝑎)
Equation: 𝑥 = 0 Equation: 𝑦 = 0
Location: y-axis Location: x-axis
Minor Axis
Length: 2𝑏 Length: 2𝑏
Endpoints: (0, ±𝑏) Endpoints: (±𝑏, 0)
𝑎2 𝑎2
Directrices 𝑥=± 𝑦=±
𝑐 𝑐
Equation: 𝑥 = ±𝑐 Equation: 𝑦 = ±𝑐
Direction: vertical Direction: horizontal
Latus Rectum 2𝑏2 2𝑏2
Length: Length:
𝑎 𝑎
𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑏2
Endpoints: (−𝑐, ± ) and (𝑐, ± ) Endpoints: (± , −𝑐) and (± , 𝑐)
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
EXAMPLE
Express each equation in standard form. Determine
the values of a and b, and the coordinates of the
endpoints of the major and minor axes.
2 2
1. 4𝑥 + 9𝑦 = 36
2 2
2. 16𝑥 + 9𝑦 − 144 = 0
2 2
3. 9𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 144 = 0
EXAMPLE
Trace the ellipse 4𝑥 + 9𝑦 = 36.
2 2
EXAMPLE
Find the center and the foci, plot the
ends of the major and minor axes and
of the latera recta, and draw the
ellipse
𝑦2 𝑥2
+ = 1.
36 20
EXAMPLE
Find the center and the foci, plot
the ends of the major and minor
axes and of the latera recta, and
draw the ellipse
2 2
9𝑥 + 16𝑦 − 144 = 0.
EXAMPLE
Write the equation of the ellipse with center
at the origin that satisfies the given condition.
Draw the ellipse, its foci, and directrices.
a. Foci have coordinates (±4, 0) and vertex
at (5, 0).
8
b. Length of latus rectum is and the
5
vertices have coordinates (0, -5) and (0,
5).
EXAMPLE
Find the equation of the ellipse that
has its center at the origin.
a. Focus at (3, 0) and vertex at (5,
0)
b. Focus at (0, 3) and the length of
major axis is 8 units.
Center: (h,k) Ellipse with horizontal major axis Ellipse with vertical major axis
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 (𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1 + =1

EXAMPLE
Equation

Vertices
𝑎 2 𝑏 2
where 𝑐 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 and 𝑎 > 𝑏
ℎ ± 𝑎, 𝑘
𝑏 2 𝑎 2
where 𝑐 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 and 𝑎 > 𝑏
(ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑎)

Find the equation of the ellipse that

Foci
Equation: 𝑦 = 𝑘
ℎ ± 𝑐, 𝑘
Equation: 𝑥 = ℎ
(ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑐)

has its center at the origin.

Major Axis
Location: horizontal
Length: 2𝑎
Location: vertical
Length: 2𝑎

a. Focus at (3, 0) and vertex at (5,

Endpoints: (ℎ ± 𝑎, 𝑘)
Equation: 𝑥 = ℎ
Endpoints: (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑎)
Equation: 𝑦 = 𝑘
Minor Axis 0)
Location: vertical
Length: 2𝑏
Location: horizontal
Length: 2𝑏

b. Focus at (0, 3) and the length of

Endpoints: (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑏)
𝑎2
Endpoints: (ℎ ± 𝑏, 𝑘)
a2

major axis is 8 units.

Directrices 𝑥 =h± 𝑦 =k±
𝑐 𝑐
Equation: 𝑥 = ℎ ± 𝑐 Equation: 𝑦 = 𝑘 ± 𝑐
Direction: vertical Direction: horizontal
Latus Rectum 2𝑏2 2𝑏2
Length: Length:
𝑎 𝑎
𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑏2
Endpoints: (ℎ − 𝑐, 𝑘 ± ) and (ℎ + 𝑐, 𝑘 ± ) Endpoints: (ℎ ± ,𝑘 − 𝑐) and (ℎ ± ,𝑘 + 𝑐)
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
EXAMPLE
(𝑥−7) 2 (𝑦+2) 2
Trace the ellipse + = 1.
25 16
EXAMPLE
Find the equation of the ellipse
1
with eccentricity and its foci at
4
the points (-4, 5) and (-6, 5).
EXAMPLE
Write the equation of the ellipse with
its center at (3, 4), a=3, and the
major axis is horizontal, length of
minor axis is 4.
ellipse