Conic Sections Ellipse L
Conic Sections Ellipse L
Conic Sections Ellipse L
The following lectures cover the sections 2.4.1, 2.4.2 and 2.4.3 (according to the syllabus)
Figure 1
Recall that an Ellipses look similar to circles, but there are a few differences between these
shapes. Ellipses have both an 𝑥-radius and a 𝑦-radius, while circles have only one radius.
Definition 1
If the Length of the major axis is 2ℎ and the Length of the minor axis is 2𝑘, then the
Standard form of the equation of an Ellipse is
(𝑥 − 𝑎) 2 (𝑦 − 𝑏) 2
Horizontal major axis : + = 1,
ℎ2 𝑘2
(𝑥 − 𝑎) 2 (𝑦 − 𝑏) 2
Vertical major axis : + =1
𝑘2 ℎ2
To find the locations of the two foci (plural of focus), you will need to find the focal length
represented as c using the following relationship:
|ℎ2 − 𝑘 2 | = 𝑐2 .
In case ℎ > 𝑘 > 0, the distance between the centre and the focus is 𝑐, where 𝑐2 = ℎ2 − 𝑘 2 .
focus√ focus√
c = h2 − k 2 c = h2 − k 2
h semi-major axis
center (a, b)
center (a, b)
Focus Point (a − c, b) Focus Point (a + c, b)
Figure 2
h2 − k2
h semi-major axis
√
focus c =
k semi-minor axis
center (a, b) center (a, b)
focus c =
Co-Vertex (a − k, b) Co-Vertex (a + k, b) Co-Vertex (a − k, b) Co-Vertex (a + k, b)
√
h2 − k2
Focus Point (a, b − c)
Vertex (a, b − h) Vertex (a, b − h)
Figure 3
(𝑎 − ℎ, 𝑏) and (𝑎 + ℎ, 𝑏)
If the major axis of the ellipse is parallel to the 𝑦-axis (and, the minor axis is
parallel to the 𝑥-axis), the endpoint of the minor axis are
(𝑎 − 𝑘, 𝑏) and (𝑎 + 𝑘, 𝑏)
As summary, we have
An ellipse is the collection of points whose sum of distances from two foci is
constant.
The foci in an ellipse are the two points that the ellipse curves around.
The major axis of an ellipse is its longest diameter: a line segment that runs through
the center and both foci, with ends at the widest points of the perimeter.
The semi-major axis is one half of the major axis. It runs from the center, through a
focus, and to the endpoints. It is the longest radius of an ellipse.
The semi-minor axis is the shortest radius of an ellipse.
The Eccentricity is a measure of how oval or how circular the shape is. Ellipses can
have an eccentricity between 0 and 1, where a number close to 0 is extremely circular,
and a number close to 1 is more elongated or flatter. Eccentricity is calculated by
𝑐
𝑒= .
ℎ
1 1 1
0 e = 0.9 0
e = 0.5 0 e = 0.1
-0.2 -0.2 -0.2
-1 -1 -1
-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1
Example 1.1
Find the endpoints of the major axis, foci, and eccentricity of the following ellipse:
𝑥 2 𝑦2
+ = 1.
25 16
Solution
The center of this ellipse is at (0, 0).
The semi-major axis is horizontal with ℎ = 5.
The semi-minor axis is vertical with 𝑘 = 4.
This means that the endpoints along the 𝑥-axis are at are at (0 + 5, 0) = (5, 0) and
(0 − 5, 0) = (−5, 0).
This means that the endpoints along the 𝑥-axis are at are at (0, 0 + 4) = (0, 4) and
(0, 0 − 4) = (0, −4).
The focal distance is 𝑐 = 3 since 25 − 16 = 32 = 𝑐2 ,
This means that the foci are at (3, 0) and (−3, 0),
𝑐 3
The eccentricity is 𝑒 = = .
ℎ 5
Prof. Mostafa Zahri Analytic Geometry 11 / 18
Conic Section: Ellipses
Properties of an ellipse as intersection plane-cone
2 k=4
1
0
(a, b) = (0, 0) h=5
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Example 1.2
Find the endpoints of the major axis, foci, and eccentricity of the following ellipse:
(𝑥 − 1) 2 (𝑦 − 2) 2
+ = 1.
9 36
Solution
The center of this ellipse is at (1, 2).
The semi-major axis is vertical with ℎ = 6.
The semi-minor axis is horizontal with 𝑘 = 3.
This means that the endpoints along the 𝑥-axis are at are at (1, 2 + 6) = (1, 8) and
(1, 2 − 6) = (1, −4).
This means that the endpoints along the 𝑥-axis are at are at (1 + 3, 2) = (4, 2) and
(1 − 3, 2) = (−2, 2).
√
The focal distance is 𝑐 = 27 since 36 − 9 = 272 = 𝑐2 ,
This means that the foci are at (1, 2 + 𝑐) and (1, 2 − 𝑐),
√
𝑐 27
The eccentricity is 𝑒 = = .
ℎ 6
Prof. Mostafa Zahri Analytic Geometry 13 / 18
Conic Section: Ellipses
Properties of an ellipse as intersection plane-cone
h=6
4
2
(a, b) = (1, 2) k=3
0
-2
-4
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Example 1.3
Complete the square and find the endpoints of the major axis, foci, and eccentricity of the
following ellipse:
25𝑥 2 − 150𝑥 + 36𝑦2 + 72𝑦 − 639 = 0.
(𝑥 − 3) 2 (𝑦 + 1) 2
+ = 1.
36 25
1 k=5
0
-1
(a, b) = (3, −1) h=6
-2
-3
-4
-5
-2 0 2 4 6 8
( 𝑥−1) 2 (𝑦+3) 2
1. 4 + 16 = 1. Find the equation for each ellipse
( 𝑥+1) 2 (𝑦+2) 2 based on the description:
2. 9 + 4 = 1.
( 𝑥−2) 2 (𝑦−1) 2
3. 16 + 4 = 1.
( 𝑥−7) 2 (𝑦+5) 2 10. An ellipse with vertices
4. 4 + 16 = 1.
(4, −2) and (4, 8) and minor
( 𝑥+1) 2 (𝑦+2) 2
5. 9 + 4 = 1. axis of length 6.
( 𝑥−2) 2 (𝑦−1) 2 11. An ellipse with minor axis
6. 25 + 4 = 1.
from (4, −1) to (4, 3) and
major axis of length 12.
Write the following ellipses in the
12. An ellipse with minor axis
standard form:
from (−2, 1) to (−2, 7) and
one focus at(2, 4).
Prof. Mostafa Zahri Analytic Geometry 18 / 18