LESSON 6: CONICS: ELLIPSE

An ellipse is a curve that is the locus of all points in the plane the sum of whose distances and from two fixed points and (the foci) separated by a distance of is a given positive constant (Hilbert and Cohn-Vossen 1999, p. 2). This results in the two-center bipolar coordinate equation (1 ) where is the semimajor axis and the origin of the coordinate system is at one of the foci. The corresponding parameter is known as the semiminor axis. The ellipse is a conic section and a Lissajous curve. An ellipse can be specified in Mathematica using Circle[ x, y , a, b ]. If the endpoints of a segment are moved along two intersecting lines, a fixed point on the segment (or on the line that prolongs it) describes an arc of an ellipse. This is known as the trammel construction of an ellipse (Eves 1965, p. 177). Ellipse From Latin: ellipsis - "ellipse" A curved line forming a closed loop, where the sum of the distances from two points (foci) to every point on the line is constant. circle' like the one above. Things that are in the shape of an ellipse are said to be 'elliptical'.

How ellipses are defined

An ellipse is defined by two points, each called a focus. (F1, F2 above). If you take any point on the ellipse, the sum of the distances to the focus points is constant. In the figure above, drag the point on the ellipse around and see that while the distances to the focus points vary, their sum is

constant. The size of the ellipse is determined by the sum of these two distances. The sum of these distances is equal to the length of the major axis (the longest diameter of the ellipse). The position of the foci (plural of focus, pronounced 'foe-sigh') determine how 'squashed' the ellipse is. Drag them around and see how this happens. If they are at the same location, the ellipse is a circle. A circle is, in fact, a special case of an ellipse. In the figure above, drag one focus until it is over the other. Properties of an ellipse Center A point inside the ellipse which is the midpoint of the line segment linking the two foci. The intersection of the major and minor axes. Major / minor axis The longest and shortest diameters of an ellipse. See Major / Minor Axis of an Ellipse. The length of the major axis is equal to the sum of the two generator lines (a and b in the diagram above). Semi-major / semi- The distance from the center to the furthest and closest minor axis point on the ellipse. Half the major / minor axis. See Semi-major/ Semi-minor axis of an ellipse. Foci (Focus points) The two points that define the ellipse. See Foci of an ellipse. Perimeter (circumference) Area Chord Tangent The perimeter is the distance around the ellipse. Not easy to calculate. See Perimeter of an ellipse. The number of square units it takes to fill the region inside an ellipse. See Area enclosed by an ellipse . A line segment linking any two points on an ellipse. A line passing an ellipse and touching it at just one point. See Tangent to an Ellipse A line that intersects an ellipse at two points. Relation to a circle A circle is actually a special case of an ellipse. In an ellipse, if you make the major and minor axis the same length, the result is a circle, with both foci at the center The ellipse was first studied by Menaechmus, investigated by Euclid, and named by Apollonius. The focus and conic section directrix of an ellipse were considered by Pappus. In 1602, Kepler believed that the orbit of Mars was oval; he later discovered that it was an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. In fact, Kepler introduced the word "focus" and published his discovery in 1609. In 1705 Halley showed that the comet now named after him moved in an elliptical orbit around the Sun (MacTutor Archive). An ellipse rotated about its minor axis gives an oblate spheroid, while an ellipse rotated about its major axis gives a prolate spheroid.

Secant

A ray of light passing through a focus will pass through the other focus after a single bounce (Hilbert and Cohn-Vossen 1999, p. 3). Reflections not passing through a focus will be tangent to a confocal hyperbola or ellipse, depending on whether the ray passes between the foci or not. Let an ellipse lie along the x-axis and find the equation of the figure (1) where and . In Cartesian coordinates, and are at (2 ) Bring the second term to the right side and square both sides, (3 ) Now solve for the square root term and simplify (4 ) (5 ) (6 ) Square one final time to clear the remaining square root, (7 ) Grouping the terms then gives (8 ) which can be written in the simple form (9 ) Defining a new constant (10 ) puts the equation in the particularly simple form

(11 ) If, instead of being centered at (0, 0), the center of the ellipse is at ( , ), equation () becomes (12 ) SUMMARY:
Equation Major axis coincides with x-axis y-axis Center ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) Foci ( -c, 0 ) ( c, 0 ) ( 0, -c ) ( 0, c ) Vertices ( -a,0 ) ( a, 0 ) ( 0,-a ) (0, a )

x2 y2 + =1 a2 b2 x2 y2 + =1 b2 a2

a>b>0

and

b2 = a 2 c2

(0,b) (0,b) (0,b) (0,b)

Eccentricity is a number between 0 and 1 that describes the shape of an ellipse. It provides a numerical measure of how much the ellipse deviates from being a circle. As eccentricity approaches 0, the more the ellipse resembles a circle. On the other hand, the more it approaches 1, the ellipse becomes flat. The eccentricity e of an ellipse is given by e = Examples: 1. Find an equation of the ellipse with center at the origin, one vertex at ( 0, -2 ) and one focus at ( 0,1 ).
c = a a2 b2 a

2. Find an equation of the ellipse with foci at 6.

( 2,0 )

and length of the major axis is

VERTEX at (h,k) If an ellipse with center at (0,0 )and major axis coincides with a coordinate axis is shifted h units horizontally ( left or right ) and k units vertically (up and down),the result is an ellipse with center at ( h,k ) and major axis is parallel to a coordinate axis.

Equation

( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2 + =1 a2 b2 ( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2 + =1 b2 a2

Major axis coincides with Parallel x-axis Parallel to yaxis where

Center ( h, k ) ( h, k )

Foci

Vertices

( h c, k )
( h, k c )

( h a, k ) ( h, k a )

a>b

and

b2 = a2 c2

3. find the center, foci, and vertices of the ellipse with equation

(x + 4 )
9

( y + 2) 2
4

=1

4. Give the equation of an ellipse, find the center, foci, and vertices.

(x + 4 )
9

( y + 2) 2
4

=1

GENERAL EQUATION OF THE ELLIPSE:

( x + 1) 2 + ( y 2) 2
4

=1

ACTIVITY 6: ELLIPSE I. Find the center, vertices, foci, and endpoints of minor axis of the following. 1.
x2 y2 + =1 36 4

5. 9 x 2 +12 y 2 + 36 x 108 = 0

Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis 2. 64 x 2 + 25 y 2 = 1600 Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis 3.

Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis 6. 4 x 2 + 9 y 2 18 y 27 = 0 Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis 7. 4 x 2 + 3 y 2 + 8 x 6 y = 5 Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis 8. 9 x 2 18 x + 4 y 2 +16 y 11 = 0 Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis

( x + 2) 2 + ( y 1) 2
36 64

=1

Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis 4. 4 x 2 + y 2 = 100 Center Vertices Foci Endpoints of minor axis

II. Find an equation for each ellipse. 9. Center at (0,0) , focus at (3,0); verex at (5,0 ) 12. vertices at ( 4,3 )and ( 4,9 ); focus at (4, 8 )

10. foci at ( 0,-3) and (0,3);x-intecepts at -2 and 2.

13. foci at ( 1, 2) and (-3,2);vertex at ( 4, 2)

11. foci at ( 0,-2 )and ( 0, 2);length of the major axis is 8

14. Center at (1,2) , vertex at (4,2); passing trough the point ( 1, 3)