25/09/2023

4 Notable Conic Sections An ellipse is the set

of all points P in a
plane such that the
sum of its distances
CIRCLE ELLIPSE PARABOLA HYPERBOLA from two fixed
points on a plane is
Circle – the plane is perpendicular to the vertical axis of the cone.
Ellipse – the plane is tilted to form a bounded curve.
constant. The fixed
Parabola – the plane is tilted to cut only 1 cone forming an unbounded curve. points are referred
Hyperbola – the plane intersects the two cones forming two unbounded
curves. to as the foci.

PARTS DEFINITION

The longest axis that passes through the center of the ellipse, connecting
Major Axis
two opposite points on the ellipse called vertices.

The shortest axis perpendicular to the major axis, also passing through
Minor Axis
the center, connecting two opposite points on the ellipse.

Semi-Major The semi-major axis is half the length of the major axis, and it is
Axis represented by 'a' in the standard equation of an ellipse.

Semi-Minor The semi-minor axis is half the length of the minor axis, and it is
Axis represented by 'b' in the standard equation of an ellipse.

This can be at the origin or (h, k). This is middle inner most part of an
Center C
ellipse.

The vertices are the parts on the ellipse, collinear with center and foci.
Vertices (V1
Each vertex is a unit/s away from the center. The length of the endpoints
& V2 )
of the vertices is called the major axis

Co-vertices Each co-vertex is b unit/s away from the center. The length of the
(W 1 & W 2) endpoints of the co-vertices is called the minor axis.

Foci (F1 & F2) Each focus is c unit/s away from the center.

THE EQUATION AND GRAPH OF AN ELLIPSE WITH THE CENTER AT THE

ORIGIN.
CENTER AT THE ORIGIN
The standard form of the equation of an ellipse with the center at
the origin is given by PARTS HORIZONTAL VERTICAL

𝑥2 y2
+ =1 HORIZONTAL
𝑎2 𝑏 2

𝑥2 y2
+ =1 VERTICAL
𝑏 2 𝑎2

1
 25/09/2023

THE EQUATION AND GRAPH OF AN ELLIPSE WITH THE CENTER AT THE

(h,k).
CENTER AT THE (h, k)
The standard form of the equation of an ellipse with the center at
the origin is given by
PARTS HORIZONTAL VERTICAL

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (y − k)2 HORIZONTAL

+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (y − k)2 VERTICAL

+ =1
𝑏2 𝑎2