CONIC SECTIONS

ELLIPSE
Definition of Terms:
■ Ellipse  is the locus of all points in the plane the sum of whose distances from two
fixed points, and , is a constant.
■ Foci  two fixed points (two foci), denoted by and
■ Center  the midpoint of the segment between the foci, major axis and the minor axis
■ Principal Axis  the line that passes through the foci which hits the ellipse at exactly two
points
■ Vertex  the point of intersection of the axis with the ellipse. Note that there two
vertices
■ Major Axis  the segment between the vertices; its length is 2a
■ Minor Axis  the segment whose endpoints are on the ellipse, perpendicularly bisecting
the major axis; its length is 2b
 the segment between the foci has length 2c
 ELLIPSES VERTICAL HORIZONTAL
Equation

Shape

Center ( h, k)
Vertices

Co-Vertices

Foci

Focal Length Equation

Length of Major Axis

Length of Minor Axis

Parts of an Ellipse
Co-vertex 1
(M1)

Minor Axis

Focus 1 (F1) Center Focus 2 (F2)

Vertex 1 Vertex 2
(V1) Major Axis (V2)

Co-vertex 2
(M2)
Types of Ellipse
 
1. Vertical Ellipse
- has the equation in standard form
where is the center
- the denominator of y variable is greater than the
denominator of x variable
- if the center is at then the equation in standard form is
- Center :
- Vertices :
- Co-vertices :
- Foci :
 Vertex 1
(V1)
Parts of a Vertical Ellipse
Focus 1 (F1)

Major Axis

Center
Co-vertex 1 Co-vertex 2
(M1) Minor Axis (M2)
b

Focus 2 (F2)

Vertex 2
2. Horizontal Ellipse
- has the equation in standard form where is the center
- the denominator of x variable is greater than the
denominator of y variable.
- if the center is at then the equation in standard form is
- Center :
- Vertices :
- Co-vertices :
- Foci :
Parts of a Horizontal Ellipse
Co-vertex 1
(M1)

Minor Axis

Focus 1 (F1) Center Focus 2 (F2)

Vertex 1 Vertex 2
(V1) Major Axis (V2)
a
b

Co-vertex 2
(M2)
Example 1:
Given the equation . Identify its center, vertices, co-vertices
and foci.
Solution:
Given the equation above, we can say that it is a vertical ellipse because the
denominator of y variable is greater than the denominator of x variable. So,
and . Let’s find c by using this formula.
Therefore,
■ Center :
■ Vertices :  = and
■ Co-vertices : 
■ Foci : 
Example 2:
Graph .
Find its center, vertices, co-vertices and foci.

Solution:
Since we have a sum of two squares and the squared terms have unequal coefficient, then
we can say that it is an ellipse. For us to be able to graph the ellipse, we need to change the
equation in its standard form.
 
Having the equation above, we can conclude that the ellipse is
horizontal because the denominator of x is greater than the
denominator of y. So, , and .
 
■ Center :
■ Vertices :  = and
■ Co-vertices :  and
■ Foci : 
and
= and
Example 3:
Find the equation of the ellipse in standard form with foci at and
and vertex .
Solution:
■ Note that the important components in determining the equation of an ellipse
are its center and the values of and Since, the y-coordinates of the foci and
the vertex are the same, then we can say that the ellipse is horizontal. We have
to obtain an equation of this form We know from our discussion that the
midpoint of the foci and the vertices as well as the midpoint of the co-vertices
is the center of the ellipse. By the midpoint formula, the center of the ellipse
is . We already have the center at , given the vertex at , so (the distance from
the center to the vertex) is equal to 3 therefore . Now, we need to know the
value of . Given the focus at , then (the distance from the center to the focus)
is equal to 1. Let’s find using the formula   . The equation of the ellipse
is,
Application:
The orbit of the planet has the shape of an ellipse, and on one of the foci is the star around
which it revolves. The planet is closest to the star when it is at one vertex. It is farthest from
the star when it is at the other vertex. Suppose the closest and farthest distances of the planet
from this star, are 420 million kilometres and 580 million kilometres, respectively. Find the
equation of the ellipse, in standard form, with center at the origin and the star at the x-axis.
Assume all units are in millions of kilometres.