Subject Code Math 5 Differential Calculus

Module Code 1.0 Conic Sections

LG Code 1.2.3 Ellipse (Session 3 of 3)
Time Frame 30 minutes

Component Tasks TAa ATAb

Target By the end of this module, the students should be able to 1
1. Define the eccentricity of an ellipse; min
2. Identify the parts and features of an ellipse given an equation
for the ellipse;

Ignite In one of the sessions on Parabola, it was mentioned that 1

ellipses are conic sections. In particular, this is the conic section min
that one gets when the plane intersecting the cone is not parallel to
any generator.

In the same session, the idea of eccentricity of a conic section

which indicates how much a conic section varies from being
circular was also introduced. Note that some ellipses are more
circular while some are “flat”. When the foci are close together,
the ellipse is circular while the ellipse is flat when the foci are
farther apart.

Eccentricity of an Ellipse

Definition The eccentricity 𝑒 of an ellipse is the ratio of the

undirected distance between the foci to the undirected distance
between the vertices; that is,
𝑐
𝑒= .
𝑎

Navigate Exercises 1 Determine the eccentricity of the following and 2

identify which is more circular. mins
("#$)! ((#))!
Ellipse 1: &'
+ *++
=1

Ellipse 2: 81𝑥 $ = 81 − 𝑦 $

Ignite Expanding, simplifying and renaming coefficients, we can write 3

mins
(𝑥 − ℎ)$ (𝑦 − 𝑘)$ (𝑥 − ℎ)$ (𝑦 − 𝑘)$
+ = 1 and + = 1
𝑎$ 𝑏$ 𝑏$ 𝑎$
in the general form 𝐴𝑥 $ + 𝐵𝑦 $ + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 where 𝐴 and
𝐶 have the same sign.

Example Show that the graph of

9𝑥 $ + 5𝑦 $ − 18𝑥 + 10𝑦 − 31 = 0
is an ellipse. Find the center, vertices, co-vertices, foci, the length
of the major and minor axes, and an equation for the principal
axis. Finally sketch the ellipse.

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 Solution Converting the given to the standard form,
9(𝑥 $ − 4𝑥 ) + 5(𝑦 $ + 2𝑦 ) = 31
9(𝑥 $ − 2𝑥 + 1) + 5(𝑦 $ + 2𝑦 + 1) = 31 + 9 + 5
(𝑥 − 1)$ (𝑦 + 1)$
+ = 1.
5 9

The center is (1, −1); vertices are (1,2)

and (1, −4); covertices are C1 +
√5, −1E and C1 − √5, −1E; foci are
(1,1) and (1, −3); major axis is 6 units
; minor axis is 2√5 units; and an
equation for the principal axis is 𝑥 = 1.
The sketch is given on the right.

Navigate Exercises 2 8
1. Find the center, vertices, co-vertices, foci, the length of the mins
minor and major axes, and an equation for the principal axis.
Finally sketch the ellipse.
a. 9(𝑥 − 1)$ + 4(𝑦 + 3)$ = 36
b. 25𝑥 $ + 16𝑦 $ + 200𝑥 = 0

Knot In this session, we defined the eccentricity of an ellipse. We 15

also had exercises on identifying the parts and features of an mins
ellipse given an equation for the ellipse. Finally, we saw that the
graph of an equation of the form 𝐴𝑥 $ + 𝐵𝑦 $ + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0
where 𝐴 and 𝐶 have the same sign may be an ellipse.

Answers

Exercises 1
, '√)
Ellipse 1 (𝑒 = ) = 0.6) is more circular than Ellipse 2 G𝑒 = .
≈
0.99I
Exercises 2
1.
a. (𝑥 − 1)$ (𝑦 + 3)$
+ =1
4 9
center:(1, −3)
vertices: (1,0) and (1, −6)
co-vertices: (−1, −3) and (3, −3)
foci: C1, −3 − √5E and C1, −3 + √5E
major axis is 6 units
minor axis is 4 units
an equation of the principal axis: 𝑥 = 1

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 b. (𝑥 + 4)$ 𝑦 $
+ =1
16 25
center:(−4,0)
vertices: (−4, −5) and (−4,5)
co-vertices: (−8,0) and (0,0)
foci: (−4, −3) and (−4,3)
major axis is 10 units
minor axis is 8 units
an equation of the principal axis:
𝑥 = −4

GRADED ASSESSMENT – QUIZ

("#$)! ((/*)!
1. Sketch the graph of '
+ .
= 1.
2. Give the foci of the ellipse 16𝑦 + 9𝑥 $ − 36𝑥 = 108.
$

3. Give an equation in standard form for an ellipse whose

vertices are vertices are (1, −6) and (1,2) and whose co-
vertices are (−1, −2) and (3, −2).
4. Give the vertices of an ellipse whose foci are (−2,2) and
(−2,8) and whose minor axis has length 8 units.
5. (Level 1 Only) Give the area of the triangle whose vertices are
("/))! ((#$)!
the foci and a co-vertex of $)
+ .
=1
5. (Level 2 Only) In the figure below, the area of ∆𝐴𝐷𝐵 is half
the area of ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵. If the two triangles have the same
perimeter, what is the length of 𝐶𝐷? Figure below is not
drawn to scale.*

a
TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher
b
ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for the evaluation of learning guide purposes)
* This problem circulated in a certain fbpage a few years back.

References
Leithold, L. (1995) The Calculus 7. HarperCollins College Division
Stewart, J. (2016) Calculus: Early Transcendentals. Cengage Learning

Prepared by: Angela Faith B. Daguman Reviewed by: Clifford Jed A. De Leon
Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) IV Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) III
Campus: PSHS-MC Campus: PSHS-CARC

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