PRECALCULUS

FIRST SEMESTER, 2021-2022 LESSON 3. THE ELLIPSE

LESSON 3
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. define ellipse; and
2. graph an ellipse given an equation in vertex form.

An ellipse is the set of all points in a plane such that the sum of the distances from two
fixed points is constant. The two fixed points are called the foci of the ellipse.

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FIRST SEMESTER, 2021-2022 LESSON 3. THE ELLIPSE

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FIRST SEMESTER, 2021-2022 LESSON 3. THE ELLIPSE
Example 1.

Example 2.
In an ellipse, sound or light coming from one focus is reflected to the other focus. In a
whispering gallery, a person can here another person whispering from across the room if
the two people are standing at the two foci. The whispering gallery at the Museum of
Science and Industry in Chicago has an elliptical cross section that is 13 feet 6 inches by 47
feet 4 inches.
a. Write an equation to model this ellipse. Assume that the center is at the origin and the
major axis is horizontal.

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FIRST SEMESTER, 2021-2022 LESSON 3. THE ELLIPSE

b. How far are the points at which two people should stand to here each other?

People should stand at the two foci of the ellipse. The distance between the foci is 2c
units.

The points where two people should stand to hear each other whisper are about 45.37 feet
or 45 feet 4 inches apart.

Example 3.
Find the coordinates of the center and foci and the lengths of the major and minor axes of
𝑥2 𝑦2
the ellipse with equation16 + =1 . Then graph the ellipse.
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Solution:
The center of this ellipse is at (0,0).
Since 𝑎2 = 16, 𝑎 = 4. Since 𝑏2 = 4, 𝑏 = 2
The lenght of the major axis is 2(4) or 8 units, and the leght of the minor axis is 2(2)
or 4 units.. Since the 𝑥 2 has the greater denominator, the major axis is horizontal.

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FIRST SEMESTER, 2021-2022 LESSON 3. THE ELLIPSE

The ellipse could be translated h units to the right and k units up. This would move the center
to the point (h,k). Such a move would be equivalent to replacing x with x-h and replacing y
with y-k.

If you are given an eequation of an ellipse that is not in standard form, write it in standard
form first. This will make graphing the the ellipse easier.

Example 4.
Find the coordinates of the center and foci and the lengths of the major and minor axes
with equation 𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 + 4𝑥 − 24𝑦 + 24 = 0 then graph the ellipse.
Solution:
Complete the square for each variable to write this equation in standard form.

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FIRST SEMESTER, 2021-2022 LESSON 3. THE ELLIPSE

Example 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.

Solution:

The center of the ellipse is the midpoint of the two foci and is at (2 , 0). c is the length
from one foci to the center, hence c = 2. The length of minor axis 2 = 2b hence b = 1

a2 = b2 + c2
a 2 = 12 + 2 2 = 5

Since the foci are on the x axis, the major axis of the ellipse is the x axis.
The equation of ellipse:
(𝑥 − 2)2
+ 𝑦2 = 1
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ASSIGNMENT 3. Submit until 5PM of September 9,2021 through Google classroom. Please
do not send through my messenger.

An ellipse is given by the equation 4x 2 + 3y 2 -16x + 18y = -31. Determine the center
of the ellipse, its major and minor axes and their lengths, its vertices, and its
foci.Graph the ellipse.