ELLIPSE

Learning Objectives:
1.Name the parts of the Ellipse.
2.Determine the properties of the
Ellipse at the point of origin
(0,0).
3.Graph the Ellipse.
 ELLIPSE
An ellipse is the locus
8
7
6

of all those points in a 5

4

plane such that the

3
2
1

sum of their distances

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
-1

from two fixed points in -2

-3

the plane, is constant. -4

-5
-6
-7
-8
 ELLIPSE
An ellipse is
8
7
6

determined by a 5
4

constant and two fixed

3
2
1

points, each called a

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
-1

focus (plural: foci)

Focus Focus
-2
-3
-4

point of the ellipse. -5

-6
-7
-8
 ELLIPSE
8
7
The longest diameter of an 6

ellipse is known as the major Major Axis

5
4
axis. It extends from one side 3

of the ellipse to the other side.

2
Vertex 1 Center Vertex
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The endpoints of the major -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1

-1
axis are called vertices. Focus
-2 Focus

-3
The midpoint of the major -4

axis is called the center of an -5

-6
ellipse. -7
-8
 ELLIPSE
The line segment through the 8

center, perpendicular to the major 7

6
axis and with endpoints on the Major Axis
5
4Co-vertex
ellipse is called the minor axis. Latera Recta 3
Latera Recta

The endpoints of the minor axis Vertex

2
1 Center Vertex
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
are called co-vertices. -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
-1
Latus rectum (plural of latera recta) Focus
-2 Focus

is the chord that passes through Latera Recta

-3
-4
Latera Recta

the focus, and is perpendicular to Minor Axis -5

Co-vertex

the major axis and has both -6

-7

endpoints on the curve. -8

 ELLIPSE
8

Directrix is a line parallel to the

7
Directrix 6 Directrix

latus rectum of the ellipse and is Major Axis

5
4Co-vertex
perpendicular to the major axis of Latera Recta 3
Latera Recta

the ellipse. The two directrices of Vertex

2
1 Center Vertex
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
the ellipse are equidistant from the -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
center or the minor axis of the Focus
-1
-2 Focus

ellipse. The directrix is used to Latera Recta

-3
Latera Recta
-4
define the eccentricity of the Minor Axis -5
Co-vertex

ellipse. -6
-7
-8
 ELLIPSE
Eccentricity describes the shape
of an ellipse in terms of how wide
it is.
It is the ratio of the undirected
distance between the foci to the
undirected distance between
vertices.

It varies from 0 ≤ e < 1

Formula:
 ELLIPSE
8
In any cases, , and 7
6
5
We use to denote the distance from 4
𝑩𝟏
the center to the vertex (half the 𝑬𝟑 3 𝑬𝟏
2
length of the major axis), the 𝒂 1 𝒃
𝑽 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
distance from the center to a co- 𝟐
-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2
𝒇 -1 𝑪(𝟎 , 𝟎)𝒇 𝑽
vertex (half the length of the minor 𝟐
𝒄 -1
𝟏 𝟏

axis) and the focal distance. -2

𝑬𝟒 -3
𝑩𝟐 𝑬 𝟐
Latus rectum -4
-5
-6
-7
-8
 ELLIPSE
8
In any cases, , and 7
6
𝑽 𝟏
5
4
𝒇
The major axis is vertical 𝑬𝟏 𝟏
3 𝑬𝟏
2 𝒂
𝒃 1
𝑩𝟐 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 𝑪(𝟎 , 𝟎)𝑩 𝟏
-1
𝒄
-2
𝑬𝟒 -3
𝒇 𝑬𝟑
𝟐
-4
-5
𝑽
-6 𝟐

-7
-8
 Example 1. Graph the ellipse, find the coordinates of the vertices, co-
vertices, and foci with its center at (0,0).
8
Major Axis: 7
6
Center: Horizontal 5
4
3
2
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Vertices: -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
-1
Co-vertices: & -2
Foci: & -3

Latera recta: & -4

-5
,, -6
Directrix: & e= -7

𝑥=± 4.091 0.73 -8

 Example 2. Graph the ellipse, find the coordinates of the vertices, co-
vertices, and foci with its center at (0,0).

8
Major Axis: 7
6
Center: Vertical
5
4
3
2
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Vertices: -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
-1
Co-vertices: & -2
Foci: & -3
Latera recta: & -4

,, -5
-6
Directrix: : & e= -7
𝑦 =± 6.25 0.8 -8
 Exercise 1. Graph the ellipse, find the coordinates of the vertices, co-
vertices, and foci with its center at (0,0).

8
Major Axis: 7

Center: Horizontal 6
5
4
3
2
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Vertices: -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
-1
Co-vertices: & -2
Foci: & -3
Latera recta: & -4
-5
,,
-6
Directrix: : & e= -7

𝑥=± 8 0.75 -8
 Exercise 2. Graph the ellipse, find the coordinates of the vertices, co-
vertices, and foci with its center at (0,0).

8
Major Axis: 7
6
Center: Vertical
5
4
3
2
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Vertices: -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
-1
Co-vertices: & -2
Foci: & -3
Latera recta: & -4
-5
,, -6
Directrix: : & e= -7

𝑦 =± 7.42 0.94 -8
ACTIVITY: Find the coordinates of the vertices, co-vertices, foci, latera
recta, directrix, and its eccentricity with its center at (0,0) and graph the
ellipse.