PRE-CALCULUS

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Define and determine the standard form of equation of an ellipse

Name of the learner: ____________________________ Q1W3LC1

Section: ________________________ Date: ________________

The Ellipse
An ellipse is the set of all points in a plane such that the sum of its distances from
two fixed points in the plane is constant. The fixed points are called the foci of the ellipse,
denoted by F1 and F2. The point on the focal axis midway between the foci is the center.
The points where the ellipse crosses its focal axis are called the vertices. The line
segment joining the two vertices is called the major axis; and the line segment through
the center, perpendicular to the major axis and terminating the ellipse is called the minor
axis.
The ellipse is a conic section for which the eccentricity is between 0 and 1. The
equation of the ellipse is the second degree polynomial in two variables.
Illustration:

Major Axis
Center
Vertex Vertex
Focus Focus

Minor Axis

Standard form of the equation of the Ellipse with center at the Origin
Equation in standard 𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
2 + 2 = 1 2 + =1
𝑎 𝑏 𝑏 𝑎2
form
Center ( 0,0) ( 0,0)
Major axis Horizontal Vertical
Minor axis Vertical Horizontal
Foci : F1, F2 : ( -c, 0) ; ( c , 0) ( 0, -c,) ; ( 0, c)
c=√𝑎2 − 𝑏2 c units from left and right of the c units from above and below
center of the center
Vertices: V1,V2 ; ( -a,0 ) ; ( a, 0 ) ( 0, -a ) ; ( 0, a )
a units from left and right of the a units from above and below
center of the center
Co-vertices: W1, W2 ; (0, -b) ; ( 0, b) (-b, 0) ;( b, 0)
b units from above and below b units from left and right of
of the center the center

Example 1. Given the following equations of the ellipse, identify the coordinates of the
center, foci, vertices, and co-vertices. Sketch the graph.
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
a. + =1 b. + =1
36 16 9 25

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Solution:
𝑥2 𝑦2
a. + =1 Major axis : horizontal
36 16
From the equation, a2 = 36 and b2 = 16, then a =6, and b=4. To find the distance
from center to foci, use c = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 = √36 − 16 = √20 c = 2√5
center: ( 0, 0)
foci: (-2√5, 0) ; (2√5, 0) W (0, 4)
vertices: (-6, 0) ; (6, 0)
co-vertices: ( 0, -4) ; ( 0, 4) F (-2ඥ5, 0), C (0, 0) V (6, 0)
4)
V (-6, 0) F (2ඥ5, 0),

W (0, -4)
𝑥2 𝑦2
b. + 25 = 1 Major axis: vertical
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From the equation, a2 = 25 and b2 = 9, then a = 5, and b = 3. To find the distance
from center to foci, use c = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 =√25 − 9 = √16 c=4
center: ( 0, 0)
V (0, 5)
foci: (0, -4) ; (0, 4)
vertices: (0,-5) ; (0, 5) F (0, 4)
co-vertices: ( -3, 0) ; ( 3, 0)
W (-3, 0) C (0, 0)

W (3, 0)

F (0, -4)

V (0, -5)

Standard form of the equation of the Ellipse with center at (h,k)

Equation in (𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2

+ =1 + =1
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑎2
standard form
Center (h,k) (h,k)
Major axis Horizontal Vertical
Minor axis Vertical Horizontal
Foci : F1, F2 : ( h+c, k) ; ( h-c , k) ( h, k-c,) ; ( h, k+c)
c=√𝑎2 − 𝑏2
Vertices: V1,V2 ( h+a,k ) ; (h- a, k ) ( h, k-a ) ; ( h, k+a )

Covertices: W1, W2 (h, k+b) ; ( h, k-b) (h-b, k) ;( h+b, k)

(𝑥 − 3)2 (𝑦 − 2)2
Example 2. Given the following equations of the ellipse + = 1 identify the
25 16
coordinates of the center, foci, vertices, and co-vertices. Sketch the graph.
Solution: From the equation, a2 = 25 and b2 = 16, then a = 5, and b = 4, find the
distance from center to foci, use c = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 = √25 − 16 = √9 c=3
Major axis: horizontal
center: (h, k):( 3, 2)
foci: ( h + c, k) ; ( h - c, k) : (6, 2) ; (0, 2)
vertices: (h + a, k ) ; (h - a, k ) : (8, 2) ; (-2, 2)
co-vertices: (h, k + b) ; ( h, k - b) : ( 3, 6) ; ( 3, -2)

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 W (3, 6)

C (0, 0) F (6, 2)
V (-2, 2) F (0, 2) V (8, 2)

W (3, -2)

General form of the equation of the Ellipse

Ax2 + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0, where A, C, D, E, F and A, C > 0

Standard form of the equation of the Ellipse

a. with center at (0, 0)
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝑥2 𝑥2
+𝒃𝟐 = 1 (major axis: horizontal) or 2 + 𝑎2 = 1 (major axis: vertical)
𝒂𝟐 𝑏
b. with center at (h ,k )
(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
𝑎2
+ 2 = 1 (major axis: horizontal) or 2 + 𝑎2
= 1 (major axis: vertical)
𝑏 𝑏
where a2 > b2
Example 1. Transform the given equation of the ellipse 25x2 + 4y2 = 100 into standard
form.
Solution:
25x2 + 4y2 = 100 Given
25𝑥 2 4𝑦 2 100
+ 100 = 100 Reduce the constant term into 1 by dividing both sides by
100
100
𝑥2 𝑦2
4
+ 25 = 1 Simplify

Example 2. Transform the given equation of the ellipse x2 + 4y2 + 10x – 8y + 13 = 0

into standard form.

Solution:
x2 + 4y2 + 10x – 8y + 13 = 0 Given
x2 + 10x + 4y2 – 8y + 13 = 0 Rearrange by grouping the terms
with similar variables.
x2 + 10x + 4y2 – 8y = -13 Addition property of equality
(x2 + 10x + 25) + (4y2 – 8y + 4) = -13 + 25 +4 Completing the square; addition
property of equality
x2 + 10x + 25 + 4(y2 – 2y + 1) = 16 Factor out 4 from (4y2 – 8y + 4)
( x + 5 )2 + 4(y - 1)2 = 16 Factoring by perfect square
trinomial
( 𝑥 + 5 )2 4(𝑦 − 1)2 16
16
+ 16
= 16 Divide both sides by 16
( 𝑥 + 5 )2 (𝑦 − 1)2
+ =1 Simplify
16 4

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Example 3. Find the standard form of the equation of the ellipse with center at the
origin, vertices at (-5, 0) and (5, 0), and foci is 4 units from left and right of the center.
Solution:
c = 4 units (distance from origin to the foci) ; a = 5 units (distance from origin to
the vertex)

to find b2 use the relation b2 = a2 – c2 ,

b2 = 52 – 42
b2 = 25 – 16
b2 = 9
Substituting a2 = 25 and b2 = 9 into the standard form of the equation of the ellipse:
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
+ 𝑏2 = 1 + =1
𝑎2 25 9

Learning Competency
Define an ellipse. (STEM_PC11AGIc-1)
Determine the standard form of equation of an ellipse (STEM_PC11AGIc-2)

EXERCISES:
A. Determine the center, major axis and minor axis of the following equations of
the ellipse.
Given Center Major Axis Minor Axis
𝑥2 𝑦2
1. + 36 = 1
9
(𝑥−5)2 𝑦2
2. + =1
16 4
(𝑥−3)2 (𝑦−6)2
3. + =1
49 81
𝑥2 (𝑦−1)2
4. + =1
25 64
𝑥2 (𝑦−2)2
5. + =1
25 36

B. Determine the center, foci, vertices and co-vertices of the following equations of
the ellipse.

𝑥2 𝑦2
1. 16
+ 4
=1 center : ________________
foci : ________________
vertices : ________________
co-vertices : ________________
𝑥2 𝑦2
2. + 169 = 1 center : ________________
49
foci : ________________
vertices : ________________
co-vertices : ________________

𝑥2 𝑦2
3. + =1 center : ________________
121 81
foci : ________________
vertices : ________________
co-vertices : ________________

4
 (𝑥+2)2 (𝑦−1)2
4. + =1 center : ________________
36 100
foci : ________________
vertices : ________________
co-vertices : ________________

( 𝑥 − 4) 2 (𝑦+7)2
5. + =1 center : ________________
25 16
foci : ________________
vertices : ________________
co-vertices : ________________

C. Write the following equations in the standard form of the equation of the ellipse.

1. 9x2 + 4y2 – 36 = 0

2. 25x2 + 4y2 = 100

3. 9( x – 3 )2 + 16(y – 4)2 = 144

4. 4x2 + 25y2 – 24x – 100y + 36 = 0

5. 9x2 + 4y2 +36x - 24y + 36 = 0

D. Find the standard form of the equation of the ellipse satisfying the following
condition.

1. With center at (0,0) and endpoints of the major axis at ( -6, 0 ) and ( 6, 0 ) and
ends of minor axis (0,5) and (0,-5).

2. With center at the origin, one vertex at (0,4) and one foci at (0, 2√3)

3. With center at ( 1, 0 ), one endpoint of the minor axis at ( 1, 2 ) and one

endpoint of the major axis at ( -2, 0 )

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4. With eccentricity and vertices at ( -2,1 ) and ( 4, 1 )
3

E. Solve the problem:

1. A bus has to pass on a one-way tunnel in the shape of a semi-ellipse 13 feet

high at the center and 30 feet across at the base. How wide is the passing
bus if it is 10 feet high to be able to fit through the tunnel? Round off your
answer in two decimal places.
F. Reflection
What have you learned from this activity?
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References:
Comandante Jr., Felipe L., Analytic and Solid Geometry (Mandaluyong City:National Bookstore, 2000),
187-203.
Garces,Ian June L.,Eden, Richard B, Versoza,Debbie Marie B., Pre-Calculus (Manila:Vibal Group, Inc,
2016 ), 20-31.
Mateo, Rhea R.,Pantino,Normalyn R., Amacio, Leonor T.,Precalculus for Senior High School (Quezon
City:C & E Publishing,Inc, 2018), 53-68.
“SlideServe PPT - 10.3 Ellipses PowerPoint Presentation, free download - ID”. Accessed on July 17,
2020. https://www.slideserve.com/dane-riddle/10-3-ellipses

Answer Key
Exercises
A.
Center Major Axis Minor Axis
1 (0,0) Vertical Horizontal
2 (5,0) Horizontal Vertical
3 (3,6) Vertical Horizontal
4 (0,1) Vertical Horizontal
5 (0,2) Vertical Horizontal

B. 1. center : (0,0)
foci : (-2√3, 0), (2√3, 0)
vertices : (4, 0 ) ,(-4,0)
co vertices : (0,2), (0,-2)
2. center : ( 0,0 )
foci : (0, -2√30 ), (0, 2√30 )
vertices : (0,13), (0,-13)
co vertices : (7, 0 ) ,(-7,0)

3. center : ( 0,0 )
foci : (-2√10, 0), (2√10, 0)
vertices : (11, 0 ) ,(-11,0)
co vertices : (0,9), (0,-9)
4. center : ( -2,1 )
foci : (-2,-7), (-2,9)
vertices : (-2,-9), (-2,11)
co vertices : (-8,1 ) ,(4,1)
5. center : ( 4,-7 )
foci : (7,-7), (1,-7)
vertices : (9, -7), (-1,-7)
co vertices : (4, -3) ,(4,-11)
𝑥2 𝑦2
C. 1. + =1
4 9
𝑥2 𝑦2
2. + =1
4 25
( 𝑥−3 ) 2 ( 𝑦−4 ) 2
3. + =1
16 9
( 𝑥−3 ) 2 ( 𝑦−2 ) 2
4. + =1
25 4
( 𝑥+2 ) 2 ( 𝑦−3 ) 2
5. + =1
4 9
𝑥2 𝑦2
D. 1. + 25 = 1
36
𝑥2 𝑦2
2. + =1
4 16
( 𝑥−1 ) 2 𝑦2
3. + =1
9 4
( 𝑥−1 ) 2 ( 𝑦−1 ) 2
4. + =1
9 5
E. 1. 9.58 ft

Prepared by:

Vilma B. Panela
Master Teacher I

Prepared by:

Rommel G. Salem
Secondary School Teacher III