F1P + F2P = 2a

Where F1(h – c, k)
F2(h + c, k)
P(x, y)
√[𝑥 − (ℎ − 𝑐)]2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 + √[𝑥 − (ℎ + 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 2a
√[𝑥 − (ℎ − 𝑐)]2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 2a - √[𝑥 − (ℎ + 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
Square both side
(√[𝑥 − − 𝑐)] + − 𝑘)2 )2= (2a - √[𝑥 − (ℎ + 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 )2
(ℎ 2 (𝑦
[x – (h – c)]2 + (y – k)2 = 4a2 – 2 (2a) (√[𝑥 − (ℎ + 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 + [x – (h + c)]2 + (y – k)2
Cancel similar terms.
[x – (h – c)] = 4a – 2 (2a) (√[𝑥 − (ℎ + 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 + [x – (h + c)]2
2 2

(x – h + c)2 = 4a2 – 4a√[𝑥 − (ℎ + 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 + (x – h – c)2

x2 -2hx + 2cx – 2ch +c2 + h2 = 4a2 – 4a√[𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 + x2 -2hx -2cx +2ch + c2 + h2
cancel similar terms.
2cx – 2ch = 4a – 4a√[𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 -2cx +2ch
2

isolate the radical term on the left side of the equation.

2cx + 2cx – 2ch – 2ch – 4a2 = – 4a√[𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
Combine similar terms.
4cx – 4ch – 4a2 = – 4a√[𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
Divide all terms with – 4. Change the symbol of each term upon dividing each with – 4.
-cx + ch + a2 = a√[𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
Square both sides.
(-cx + ch + a )2 = (a√[𝑥 − ℎ − 𝑐)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 )2
2

c2x2 – 2c2hx -2a2cx + 2a2ch +c2h2 + a4 = a2[(x – h -c)2 + (y – k)2]

expand (x – h – c)2
c x – 2c hx -2a cx + 2a ch +c h2 + a4 = a2[x2 – 2hx -2cx +2ch +c2 + h2 + (y – k)2]
2 2 2 2 2 2

distribute a2 on the left side.

c2x2 – 2c2hx -2a2cx + 2a2ch +c2h2 + a4 = a2x2 – 2a2hx -2a2cx +2a2ch +a2c2 + a2h2 +a2(y – k)2
cancel similar terms.
c x – 2c hx +c h + a4 = a2x2 – 2a2hx +a2c2 + a2h2 +a2(y – k)2
2 2 2 2 2

group terms with a2 and c2.

a – a c = (a x – 2a hx + a2h2) + (- c2x2 + 2c2hx - c2h2) + a2(y – k)2
4 2 2 2 2 2

factor a2 and c2 in each group.

a ( a – c ) = a (x2 – 2hx + h2) – c2(x2 – 2hx + h2) + a2(y – k)2
2 2 2 2

transform (x2 – 2hx + h2) to (x -h)2

a ( a – c2) = a2(x - h)2 – c2(x – h)2 + a2(y – k)2
2 2

factor (x -h)2
a2( a2 – c2) = (a2 – c2)(x - h)2 + a2(y – k)2
let b2 = a2 – c2
a b = b2(x – h)2 + a2(y – k)2
2 2

divide both side with a2b2

𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑏2 (𝑥−ℎ)2 𝑎2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
= 2 2 +
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎2 𝑏2
Cancel terms.
(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
1= +
𝑎2 𝑏2
Standard form