Section 10.

2 – The Ellipse
Ellipse – a set of points in a plane whose distances from two fixed
points is a constant.
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Ellipse – a set of points in a plane whose sum of the distances from two
fixed points is a constant.

𝑑 ( 𝐹 1 , 𝑃 )+ 𝑑 ( 𝐹 2 , 𝑃 ) =𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡


Q

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡¿ 𝑑 ( 𝐹 1 , 𝑃 )+ 𝑑 ( 𝐹 2 , 𝑃 )
𝑑 ( 𝐹 1 , 𝑄 ) +𝑑 ( 𝐹 2 , 𝑄 ) =¿
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Foci – the two fixed points, , whose distances from a single point on the
ellipse is a constant.
Major axis – the line that contains the foci and goes through the center
of the ellipse.
Vertices – the two points of
intersection of the ellipse and the Foci
major axis, .
Minor axis – the line that
is perpendicular to the
major axis and goes
through the center of
the ellipse.
Major axis
Minor axis

Vertices
Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Find the vertices for the major and minor axes, and the foci using the
following equation of an ellipse.
𝑥2 𝑦 2
+ = 1
25 9
Major axis is along the x-axis
Vertices of major axis:
2
𝑎 =25 𝑎=± 5 ( −5,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (5,0)

Vertices of the minor axis
𝑏2 =9 𝑏=± 3 ( 0,3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0 , −3)    
Foci
2 2 2 2 
𝑐 =𝑎 −𝑏 𝑐 =25 − 9
𝑐 2=16 𝑐=± 4
( − 4,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (4,0)
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Find the vertices for the major and minor axes, and the foci using the
following equation of an ellipse.
4 𝑥 2 +9 𝑦 2
=36
4 𝑥2 9 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1 + =1
36 36 9 4
Major axis is along the x-axis
Vertices of major axis:
𝑎 2= 9 𝑎=± 3 ( −3,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,0) 
Vertices of the minor axis  
𝑏2 =4 𝑏=± 2 ( 0,2 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0 , −2) 

Foci
𝑐 2=𝑎 2 −𝑏2 𝑐 2=9 − 4
𝑐 =5 𝑐=± √ 5
2

( − √ 5 , 0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( √ 5 , 0)
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Find the equation of an ellipse given a vertex of and a focus of ). Graph
the ellipse.
Vertices of major axis:
( 0,12 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0 , −12)
Vertices of the minor axis
𝑎=± 12 𝑎2=144 
𝑐=± 2 √ 11 𝑐 = 44
2

𝑏2 =𝑎 2 − 𝑐2
 
𝑏2 =144 − 44
𝑏2 =100𝑏=± 10 
( −10,0 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (10,0) 

𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
2
+ 2 =1 + =1
𝑏 𝑎 100 144
Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Find the center, vertices, and foci given the following equation of an
ellipse.
( 𝑥 − 3)2 ( 𝑦 − 9)2
+ =1 Center: (3,9)
25 9
Major axis is along the x-axis Foci
Vertices: 𝑎 2=25 𝑎=± 5 2
𝑐 =𝑎 −𝑏 2 2

( 3 −5,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3+5,9) 2

𝑐 =25 − 9
( − 2,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (8,9) 𝑐 2=16
Vertices of the minor axis 𝑐=± 4
𝑏 =9 𝑏=± 3
2
( 3 − 4,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑( 3+4,9)
( 3,9 −3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,9+3) ( −1,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (7,9)
( 3,6 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,12)
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Find the center, vertices, and foci given the following equation of an
ellipse.
( 𝑥 − 3)2 ( 𝑦 − 9)2
+ =1
25 9
Center:
(3,9)

Vertices:
( −2,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (8,9)     

Vertices of the minor axis 

( 3,6 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3,12)
Foci
( −1,9 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (7,9)
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
Find the center, the vertices of the major and minor axes, and the foci
using the following equation of an ellipse.
16 𝑥2 + 4 𝑦 2+ 96 𝑥 − 8 𝑦 +84 =0
2 2
16 𝑥 +96 𝑥 +4 𝑦 − 8 𝑦 =− 84
16 ( 𝑥 ¿ ¿ 2 +6 𝑥 )+4 ( 𝑦 2 − 2 𝑦 )=− 84 ¿
6 2 −2
=3 3 =9 =−1 (−1)2=1
2 2
16( 𝑥 ¿¿ 2+6 𝑥+9)+ 4 ( 𝑦 − 2 𝑦+1 )=− 84+144 +4 ¿
2

16 ( 𝑥 + 3 )2 + 4 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2 =64
16 ( 𝑥+3)2 4( 𝑦 − 1)2
+ =1
64 64
( 𝑥 +3 )2 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2
+ =1
4 16
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
( 𝑥 +3 )2 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2
+ =1
4 16
Center:
(−3,1)
Major axis: Foci
Vertices: 𝑎 2=16 𝑎=± 4 2
𝑐 =𝑎 −𝑏 2 2

( −3,1 − 4 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3,1+ 4) 2

𝑐 =16 − 4
( −3 ,− 3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑(− 3,5) 𝑐 2=12
Minor axis:
𝑐=± 2 √ 3
Vertices of the minor axis
( −3,1 −2 √ 3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3,1+2 √ 3)
𝑏 =4 𝑏=± 2
2

( −3 − 2,1 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑(−3 +2,1) ( −3 ,− 2.464 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3 , 4.464)

( −5,1 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (− 1,1)
 Section 10.2 – The Ellipse
( 𝑥 +3 )2 ( 𝑦 − 1 )2
+ =1
4 16
Center:
(−3,1)
Major axis vertices:
( −3 ,− 3 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑(− 3,5) 

Minor axis vertices:
( −5,1 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (− 1,1)   

Foci

( −3 ,− 2.464 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3,4.464) 