The Ellipse

Ellipse – a set of points in a plane whose distances from two fixed

points is a constant.
 The Ellipse
Ellipse – a set of points in a plane whose sum of the distances from two
fixed points is a constant.

𝑑 ( 𝐹 1 , 𝑃 )+ 𝑑 ( 𝐹 2 , 𝑃 ) =𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡


Q

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡¿ 𝑑 ( 𝐹 1 , 𝑃 )+ 𝑑 ( 𝐹 2 , 𝑃 )
𝑑 ( 𝐹 1 , 𝑄 ) +𝑑 ( 𝐹 2 , 𝑄 ) =¿
 The Ellipse
Foci – the two fixed points, , whose distances from a single point on the
ellipse is a constant.
Major axis – the line that contains the foci and goes through the center
of the ellipse.
Vertices – the two points of
intersection of the ellipse and the Foci
major axis, .
Minor axis – the line that
is perpendicular to the
major axis and goes
through the center of
the ellipse.
Major axis
Minor axis

Vertices
The Ellipse
The Ellipse
 The Ellipse
Find the vertices for the major and minor axes, and the foci using the
following equation of an ellipse.
𝑥2 𝑦 2
+ = 1
25 9
Major axis is along the x-axis
Vertices of major axis:
2
𝑎 =25 𝑎=± 5 ( −5,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (5,0)

Vertices of the minor axis
𝑏2 =9 𝑏=± 3 ( 0,3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0 , −3)    
Foci
2 2 2 2 
𝑐 =𝑎 −𝑏 𝑐 =25 − 9
𝑐 2=16 𝑐=± 4
( − 4,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (4,0)
 The Ellipse
Find the vertices for the major and minor axes, and the foci using the
following equation of an ellipse.
4 𝑥 2 +9 𝑦 2
=36
4 𝑥2 9 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1 + =1
36 36 9 4
Major axis is along the x-axis
Vertices of major axis:
𝑎 2= 9 𝑎=± 3 ( −3,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,0) 
Vertices of the minor axis  
𝑏2 =4 𝑏=± 2 ( 0,2 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0 , −2) 

Foci
𝑐 2=𝑎 2 −𝑏2 𝑐 2=9 − 4
𝑐 =5 𝑐=± √ 5
2

( − √ 5 , 0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( √ 5 , 0)
 The Ellipse
Find the equation of an ellipse given a vertex of and a focus of ). Graph
the ellipse.
Vertices of major axis:
( 0,12 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0 , −12)
Vertices of the minor axis
𝑎=± 12 𝑎2=144 
𝑐=± 2 √ 11 𝑐 = 44
2

𝑏2 =𝑎 2 − 𝑐2
 
𝑏2 =144 − 44
𝑏2 =100𝑏=± 10 
( −10,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (10,0) 

𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
2
+ 2 =1 + =1
𝑏 𝑎 100 144
The Ellipse
 The Ellipse
Find the center, vertices, and foci given the following equation of an
ellipse.
( 𝑥 − 3)2 ( 𝑦 − 9)2
+ =1 Center: (3,9)
25 9
Major axis is along the x-axis Foci
Vertices: 𝑎 2=25 𝑎=± 5 2
𝑐 =𝑎 −𝑏 2 2

( 3 −5,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3+5,9) 2

𝑐 =25 − 9
( − 2,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (8,9) 𝑐 2=16
Vertices of the minor axis 𝑐=± 4
𝑏 =9 𝑏=± 3
2
( 3 − 4,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑( 3+4,9)
( 3,9 −3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,9+3) ( −1,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (7,9)
( 3,6 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,12)
 The Ellipse
Find the center, vertices, and foci given the following equation of an
ellipse.
( 𝑥 − 3)2 ( 𝑦 − 9)2
+ =1
25 9
Center:
(3,9)

Vertices:
( −2,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (8,9)     

Vertices of the minor axis 

( 3,6 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,12)
Foci
( −1,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (7,9)
 The Ellipse
Find the center, the vertices of the major and minor axes, and the foci
using the following equation of an ellipse.
16 𝑥2 + 4 𝑦 2+ 96 𝑥 − 8 𝑦 +84 =0
2 2
16 𝑥 +96 𝑥 +4 𝑦 − 8 𝑦 =− 84
16 ( 𝑥 ¿ ¿ 2 +6 𝑥 )+4 ( 𝑦 2 − 2 𝑦 )=− 84 ¿
6 2 −2
=3 3 =9 =−1 (−1)2=1
2 2
16( 𝑥 ¿¿ 2+6 𝑥+9)+ 4 ( 𝑦 − 2 𝑦+1 )=− 84+144 +4 ¿
2

16 ( 𝑥 + 3 )2 + 4 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2 =64
16 ( 𝑥+3)2 4( 𝑦 − 1)2
+ =1
64 64
( 𝑥 +3 )2 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2
+ =1
4 16
 The Ellipse
( 𝑥 +3 )2 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2
+ =1
4 16
Center:
(−3,1)
Major axis: Foci
Vertices: 𝑎 2=16 𝑎=± 4 2
𝑐 =𝑎 −𝑏 2 2

( −3,1 − 4 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3,1+ 4) 2

𝑐 =16 − 4
( −3 ,− 3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑(− 3,5) 𝑐 2=12
Minor axis:
𝑐=± 2 √ 3
Vertices of the minor axis
( −3,1 −2 √ 3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3,1+2 √ 3)
𝑏 =4 𝑏=± 2
2

( −3 − 2,1 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑(−3 +2,1) ( −3 ,− 2.464 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3 , 4.464)

( −5,1 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (− 1,1)
 The Ellipse
( 𝑥 +3 )2 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2
+ =1
4 16
Center:
(−3,1)
Major axis vertices:
( −3 ,− 3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑(− 3,5) 

Minor axis vertices:
( −5,1 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (− 1,1)   

Foci

( −3 ,− 2.464 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3,4.464) 