Week 7: ELLIPSE

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students are able to :
1. Define an ellipse;
2. Determine the standard form of equation of an ellipse;
3. Graph an ellipse in a rectangle coordinate system; and
4. Solve problems involving ellipse.

Definitions
Ellipse is the locus of a pt. which moves so that the sum of the distances from two fixed points
called foci is constant.

Foci
The two fixed points (Point F1 and F2)

Center
The point midway the foci (point C (h, k) )

Vertices
Points V1 and V2

Major Axis
The segment V1 and V2

Minor Axis
The segment B1 and B2
 Equation Center Vertices Covertices Foci
(Major Axis) (Minor Axis)
2 2
x y
+ =1
a2 b 2 C(0,0) V1(a,0) ; V2(–a,0) B1(0,b) ; B2(0, –b) F1(c,0) ; F2(–c,0)

Horizontal Ellipse
2 2
x y
+ =1
b2 a 2 C(0,0) V1(0,a) ; V2(0, –a) B1(b,0) ; B2(–b,0) F1(0,c) ; F2(0, –c)

Vertical Ellipse
( x−h )2 ( y −k )2
+ =1
a2 b2 C(h,k) V1(h+a,k) ; V2(h–a,k) B1(h,k+b) ; B2(h, k–b) F1(h+c,k) ; F2(h–c,k)

Horizontal Ellipse
( x−h )2 ( y −k )2
+ =1
b2 a2 C(h,k) V1(h,k+a) ; V2(h, k–a) B1(h+b,k) ; B2(h–b,k) F1(h,k+c) ; F2(h, k–c)

Vertical Ellipse
EXAMPLE 1
x2 y2
Sketch the graph of + =1, identify the center, vertices and foci. Find the length of the major axis,
16 4
minor axis and the latus rectum.

SOLUTION:
2
a =16→ a=4
2
b =4→ b=2
c=√ a 2−b 2 →c= √16−4 →c=2 √ 3

Center C( h ,k )=C (0,0 )

Vertices V 1 (h+a , k)=V 1 ( 4,0) & V 2 (h−a , k )=V 2 (−4,0 )
Covertices B 1 (h , k +b )=B1 (0,2) & B 2 (h , k −b )=B2 (0 ,−2)

Foci
F1 (h+c ,k )=F1 (2 √ 3 , 0) &
F2 (h−c ,k )=F 2 (−2 √3 ,0 )

MA=2 a=2 ( 4 )=8 units

ma=2 b=2 ( 2 )=4 units

 2
2 b2 2 ( 2 )
LR= = =2 units
a 4

EXAMPLE 2
2 2
x y
Sketch the graph of + =1, identify the center, vertices and foci. Find the length of the major axis,
9 25
minor axis and the latus rectum.

SOLUTION:
2
a =25∨a=5
2
b =9∨b=3
c= √ a −b , c= √5 −3 , c=4
2 2 2 2

Center C( h ,k )=C (0,0 )

Vertices V 1 (0 , a)=V 1 ( 0,5) & V 2 ( 0 ,−a )=V 2 (0 ,−5)
Covertices B1 (b , 0)=B1 (3,0) & B2 (– b ,0)=B2 (−3,0)
Foci F 1 ( 0 , c )=F 1 (0 , 4) & F 2 ( 0 ,−c )=F 1(0 ,−4)

MA=2 a=2 (5 )=10 units

ma=2 b=2 ( 3 )=6 units

 2
2 b2 2 ( 3 )
LR= = =3.6 units
a 5

EXAMPLE 3
2 2
( x−3) ( y−4 )
Sketch the graph of + =1 , identify the center, vertices and foci. Find the length of the
100 36
major axis, minor axis and the latus rectum.

SOLUTION:
2
a =100∨a=10
b 2=36∨b=6
c= √ a −b , c= √ 10 −6 , c=8
2 2 2 2

Center C ( h , k )=C(3,4)
Vertices V 1 (h+ a , k )=V 1 (13,4) & V 2 ( h−a , k )=V 2 (−7 , 4)
Covertices B1 (h , k +b)=B1 (3,10) & B2 (h , k −b)=B2 (3 ,−2)
Foci F 1 ( h+ c , k ) =F 1 (11 , 4) & F 2 ( h−c , k )=F 1(−5 , 4)

MA=2 a=2 (10 )=20 units

ma=2 b=2 ( 6 )=12 units

 2 2
2 b 2(6 )
LR= = =7.2units
a 10

EXAMPLE 4
The path of the earth around the sun is an ellipse with the sun at one focus. The ellipse has a major axis of
a 186,000,000 miles and eccentricity of 0.927. Find the distance between the earth and the sun
a.) when the earth is closest to the sun and
b.) farthest from the sun.

SOLUTION:

Major Axis=2 a=186,000,000

a=93,000,000

c c
e= =0.927=
a 93,000,000

c=86,211,000

Since we have the value of a and c, we can now get the closest and farthest distance of the earth
from the sun.
a.) closest distance=a−c=93,000,000−86,211,000=6,789,000miles
b.) farthest distance=a+c=93,000,000+ 86,211,000=179,211,000 miles

EXAMPLE 5
Convert 4 x2 + y 2 +16 x−6 y −39=0 to standard form by completing the square.

SOLUTION:
2 2
4 x + y +16 x−6 y −39=0
2 2
( 4 x +16 x )+( y −6 y )=39

By completing the square we get,

4 ( x 2 +4 x+ 4 )+( y 2 −6 y +9 )=39+16+ 9
2 2
4 ( x+ 2) +( y−3 ) =64
2 2
4( x +2 ) ( y −3) 64
+ =
64 64 64
( x+2 )2 ( y −3 )2
+ =1
16 64

ACTIVITY 1
PROBLEM SOLVING:

Solve what is being asked in the problem (5 points each)

1. An arch in the form of a semi-ellipse has a span of 10m and a central height of
4m. Find the height of the arc at point 3m from the semi-minor axis.

2. Find the standard equation of the ellipse with center at the origin, one end of
minor axis at (4, 0) and the length of its latus rectum is 6.4 units
3. Find the standard equation of the ellipse with center at the origin, a focus at (0,
5) and one end of minor axis at (7, 0)

4. The ceiling in the hallway 10 meters wide is in the shape of a semi-ellipse and is
9 meters high in the center and 6 meters high at the side walls. Find the height of
the ceiling 2 meters from either wall.

5. A bridge is supported on an elliptical arc of height 12m and width at the base
36m. A horizontal roadway is 3m above the center of the arch. Find the height
above the arch of a point on the roadway 12m from the arch center.

6. The semi-major axis of an ellipse is 4 and its semi-minor axis is 3. What is the
distance between the directrices?

Answer Sheet: