𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝑑

𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝑑

𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝑑
 is a set of all points 𝑃 (𝑥,𝑦) on a plane so that the sum
of their distances from two distinct points 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 (the foci)
is a constant.
 P

𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝑑
𝐹1 𝐹2
 is a set of all points 𝑃 (𝑥,𝑦) on a plane so that the sum
of their distances from two distinct points 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 (the foci)
is a constant.
P
𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝑑

𝐹1 𝑄 + 𝐹2 𝑄 = 𝑑
𝐹1 𝐹2

𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝑑

𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝑑
 𝐹1 𝑄 + 𝐹2 𝑄 = 𝑑
𝐹2
𝐹1

Q
 is a set of all points 𝑃 (𝑥,𝑦) on a plane so that the sum
of their distances from two distinct points 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 (the foci)
is a constant.

𝐹2
𝐹1 𝑄 + 𝐹2 𝑄 = 𝑑
𝐹1

Q
 is a set of all points 𝑃 (𝑥,𝑦) on a plane so that the sum
of their distances from two distinct points 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 (the foci)
is a constant.
P

𝐹2 𝐹1 𝑃 + 𝐹2 𝑃 = 𝐹1 𝑄 + 𝐹2 𝑄
𝐹1

Q
 Center-midpoint of 𝐹1 𝐹2
𝐵1
E
Principal axis-line thru the vertices
Vertices- 𝑉1 and 𝑉2
𝑉1 𝐹1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2
Major axis-𝑉1 𝑉2

F
Minor axis-𝐵1 𝐵2
𝐵2
Latus Rectum-𝐸𝐹

9
 𝐵1 10

Center C(h,k) 𝑉1 𝐹1 C (h,k) 𝐹2 𝑉2

𝐵2
 𝐵1 11

𝑉1 𝐹1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2

𝐵2

Vertices, 𝑉1 and 𝑉2 . The segment,𝑉1 𝑉2 , is called the

major axis of the ellipse.
 𝐵1

a |𝑎| is the distance from the

𝑉1 𝐹1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2
center to a vertex

(The length of the major axis is 2𝑎).

𝐵2

12
 𝐵1
The segment perpendicular
to the major axis passing
𝑉1 𝐹1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2
through the center whose
endpoints are on the ellipse is
the minor axis.
𝐵2

13
 𝐵1
|𝑏| is the distance from the
b center to an endpoint of the
𝑉1 𝐹1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2
minor axis

(The length of the minor axis is 2𝑏).

𝐵2

14
 𝐵1

a
b
𝐹1 a>𝑏>0
𝑉1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2

𝐵2

15
 𝐵1
|𝑐| is the distance from
the center to a focus. 𝐹1 𝐹2
𝑉1 𝐹1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2 equals 2c.

𝐵2

16
 𝐵1

a
b
𝑉1 𝐹1 C 𝐹2 𝑉2
a>𝑐>0

𝐵2

17
TWO cases:

1.PRINCIPAL AXIS is HORIZONTAL

2.PRINCIPAL AXIS is VERTICAL

18
1. Given an ellipse with center at the origin and whose major
axis has a length of 2a and whose minor axis has a length of
2b and the principal axis is HORIZONTAL, the standard
equation is

𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1 a
b
a
𝑎2 𝑏2
𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2 , a>b b

𝐹𝑂𝐶𝐼: −𝑐, 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝑐, 0)

 (0,b) 𝐵1

𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1 (-a,0) 𝑉1
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝑉2
(a,0)
𝑎2 𝑏2 C

(-c,0) (0,0) (c,0)

𝐵2
(0,-b)
2. Given an ellipse with center at
the origin and whose major axis
has a length of 2a and whose a

minor axis has a length of 2b

b b
and the principal axis is
VERTICAL, the standard
equation is a
𝑦2 𝑥2
+ 𝑏2 =1
𝑎2
𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2 , a>b
𝐹𝑂𝐶𝐼: 0, −𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0, 𝑐, )
 𝑉1
(0,a)

𝐹1 (0,c)

𝑦2 𝑥2
2
+ 2=1 𝐵1 C
𝐵2
𝑎 𝑏 (b,0)
(-b,0) (0,0)

𝐹2
(0,-c)

𝑉2 (0,-a)
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
9 4

𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
4 16
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
2 2

𝑦2
+ 𝑥2 = 1
25
Ellipses and Sketching their Graphs
Example 1. Sketching the graph of an ellipse with center at the origin.
𝑥2 𝑦2
Consider an ellipse defined by + =1
9 4

a. Find the foci, vertices, endpoints of the minor axis

𝑥2 𝑦2
b. Graph 9
+ 4 =1
b
a a

25
Ellipses and Sketching their Graphs
Example 1. Sketching the graph of an ellipse with center at the origin.
𝑥2 𝑦2
Consider an ellipse defined by + =1
9 4

a. Find the foci, vertices, endpoints of the minor axis

𝑎2 = 9 → 𝑎 = 9 = 3
𝑏2 = 4 → 𝑏 = 4 = 2
𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 9 − 4 = 5
𝑐 = 5 ≈ 2.24

26
Ellipses and Sketching their Graphs

𝑎2 = 9 → 𝑎 = 9 = 3
𝐵1 (0,2)
2
𝑏 =4→𝑏= 4=2

𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 9 − 4 = 5
𝑐 = 5 ≈ 2.24 𝑉1 (−3,0) 𝐹1 (−2.24,0) 𝐹2 (2.24,0) 𝑉1 (3,0)

𝐵2 (0, −2)

27
Ellipses and Sketching their Graphs
Example 2. Sketching the graph of an ellipse with center at the origin.
𝑦2 𝑥2
Consider an ellipse defined by + =1
36 20

a. Find the foci, vertices, endpoints of the minor axis

𝑦2 𝑥2
b. Graph 36
+ 20 =1
a
b

28
Ellipses and Sketching their Graphs
𝑉1 = (0,6)
𝑦2 𝑥2
Consider an ellipse defined by + =1
36 20

a. Find the foci, vertices, 𝐹1 = (0,4)

endpoints of the
minor axis
𝐵1 = (−4.47,0) 𝐵2 = (4.47,0)

𝑎2 = 36 → 𝑎 = 36 = 6
𝑏 2 = 20 → 𝑏 = 4 ∙ 5 = 2 5

𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 36 − 20 = 16 𝐹2 = (0, −4)

𝑐=4
𝑉2 = (0, −6)

29
3. Given an ellipse with center at (h,k) and whose major axis has a
length of 2a and whose minor axis has a length of 2b and the
principal axis is HORIZONTAL, the standard equation is

(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
𝑎2
+ 𝑏2
=1 a
b
a

b
𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2 , a>b

𝐹𝑂𝐶𝐼: ℎ − 𝑐, 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (ℎ + 𝑐, 0)
Ellipse with center at (h,k)
(𝑥 − 2)2 (𝑦 + 1)2 𝐵1 (2,1)
+ =1
9 4
𝑎2 = 9 → 𝑎 = 3
𝑏2 = 4 → 𝑏 = 2
𝐹1 (−0.24, −1) 𝐹2 (4.24, −1)
𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 9 − 4 = 5
𝑉1 (−1, −1) 𝑪 (𝟐, −𝟏) 𝑉2 (5, −1)
𝑐 = 5 ≈ 2.24

(ℎ, 𝑘) = (2, −1)

Vertices ℎ + 𝑎, 𝑘 (5,-1) ℎ − 𝑎, 𝑘 (-1,-1)

EPMinor (ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑏)(2,1) (ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑏)(2,-3) 𝐵2 (2, −3)

axis
Foci 𝐹(ℎ + 𝑐, 𝑘) 𝐹(ℎ − 𝑐, 𝑘)
31
(4.24, −1) (−0.24, −1)
4. Given an ellipse with center at (h,k) and whose major axis has a
length of 2a and whose minor axis has a length of 2b and the
principal axis is VERTICAL, the standard equation is

(𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2
𝑎2
+ 𝑏2
=1 a

b b

𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2 , a>b b

𝐹𝑂𝐶𝐼: ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑐)

 (𝑦+4)2 𝑥2 𝑉1 (0, −1)
+ =1
9 4
𝐹1 (0, −1.76)

𝑎2 = 9 → 𝑎 = 3
𝑏2 = 4 → 𝑏 = 2 𝐵1 (−2, −4) 𝐵2 (2, −4)

𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 9 − 4 = 5
𝑐 = 5 ≈ 2.24
(ℎ, 𝑘) = (𝟎, −𝟒)
𝐹2 (0, −6.24)
Vertices 𝑉(ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑎)(0, −1) 𝑉(ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑎)(0, −7)
EPMinor (ℎ + 𝑏, 𝑘)(2, −4) (ℎ − 𝑏, 𝑘)(−2, −4) 𝑉2 (0, −7)
axis
Foci 𝐹(ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑐)(0 − 1.76) 𝐹(ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑐)(0, −6.24) 33
Finding the equation of an ellipse
Find the equation of an ellipse with foci at (4,-2) and (10,-2) and
a vertex at (12,-2). Sketch the ellipse.

𝐹1 𝐹2 𝑉1 (𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

34
Finding the equation of an ellipse

𝐶 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐹1 𝐹2
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝑉1 𝑎 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑉1 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐶
𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

35
Finding the equation of an ellipse

𝑂𝑏𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑖

𝐹1 𝐹2 𝑉1 4 + 10
ℎ= =7
2

ℎ, 𝑘 = (7, −2)

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
36
Finding the equation of an ellipse

Obtain “a” which is the length of 𝑉1 𝐶

𝐹1 𝐹2 𝑉1

(𝟕, −𝟐) (𝟏𝟐, −𝟐) 𝑎 = 7 − 12 = 5

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
37
Finding the equation of an ellipse

Obtain “b” from 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 .

Solve for c first.
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝑉1

(𝟕, −𝟐) (𝟏𝟐, −𝟐) 2𝑐 = 10 − 4 = 6

𝑐=3
𝑏2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑐 2
(𝑥 − ℎ) 2
(𝑦 − 𝑘) 2 𝑏2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑐 2
𝑎2
+
𝑏2
=1 𝑏 2 = 25 − 9 = 16
𝑏=4 38
Finding the equation of an ellipse
Find the equation of an ellipse with foci at (4,-2) and (10,-2) and a vertex at (12,-2). Sketch the ellipse.
𝐵1 (7,2)

ℎ, 𝑘 = 7, −2 .
𝑎=5
𝑏=4
𝑐=3
𝑉1 (2, −2) 𝐹1 (4, −2) 𝐹2 (10, −2) 𝑉2 (12, −2)

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 𝐶 (7, −2)

+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

(𝑥 − 7)2 (𝑦 + 2)2
+ =1
25 16
𝐵2 (7, −6)
39
General Equation of an Ellipse

𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 where 𝐴𝐵 > 0

40
General Equation of an Ellipse
Reducing an equation in general form to standard form
6𝑥 2 + 10𝑦 2 + 36𝑥 − 20𝑦 + 4 = 0
6𝑥 2 + 36𝑥 + 10𝑦 2 − 20𝑦 = −4 ℎ, 𝑘 = (−3,1)
6(𝑥 2 + 6𝑥) + 10(𝑦 2 − 2𝑦) = −4
6(𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 9) + 10(𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1) = −4 + 54 + 10
𝑎 = 10
6(𝑥 + 3)2 +10(𝑦 − 1)2 = −4 + 54 + 10
6(𝑥 + 3)2 +10(𝑦 − 1)2 = 60 𝑏= 6
6(𝑥 + 3)2 10(𝑦 − 1)2 60
+ =
60 60 60
(𝑥 + 3)2 (𝑦 − 1)2
+ =1
10 6
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝐻𝑂𝑅𝐼𝑍𝑂𝑁𝑇𝐴𝐿
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
41
General Equation of an Ellipse
Reducing an equation in general form to standard form
25(𝑥 − 2)2 +169(𝑦 − 3)2 = 4225
ℎ, 𝑘 = (2,3)
25(𝑥 − 2)2 169(𝑦 − 3)2 4225
+ =
(25)(169) (25)(169) 4225 𝑎 = 13
(𝑥 − 2)2 (𝑦 − 3)2
+ =1 𝑏=5
169 25
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝐻𝑂𝑅𝐼𝑍𝑂𝑁𝑇𝐴𝐿

42
More Examples y-axis
Write the equations of the ellipse
that meets the indicated conditions
x-axis
Center at (5,1), length of the major axis
is 16, length of the minor axis is 9, and Principal axis is HORIZONTAL
the major axis is parallel to the x-axis.
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
ℎ, 𝑘 = (5,1)
(𝑥 − 5)2 (𝑦 − 1)2
2𝑎 = 16 + =1
64 81
𝑎=8 4
2𝑏 = 9 (𝑥 − 5)2 4(𝑦 − 1)2
+ =1
9 64 81
𝑏=
2
43
 𝐹2 (4,2)
More Examples 𝐹1 (−4,2)

Write the equations of the ellipse

that meets the indicated conditions
Foci at (-4,2) and (4,2). The length
of the major axis is 20. PA is horizontal

ℎ, 𝑘 = (0,2) (𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2

+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
2𝑎 = 20
𝑎 = 10 𝑥2 (𝑦 − 2)2
𝑎2 = 100 100
+
84
=1
𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2
𝑏 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑐 2 = 100 − 16 = 84

44
References:

String method for drawing an ellipse. [online] Available at <https://youtu.be/FrinlBNK0OOg>

[Accessed 23 September 2021]

Department of Education. 2016. Pre-Calculus Teaching Guide for Senior High School. Commission
on Higher Education. Quezon City.

WHOLE BRAIN LEARNING SYSTEM OUTCOME-BASED EDUCATION, Quarter 1, Week 3.

ends 45