The Ellipse

An ellipse is formed when

the plane cuts only one of
the cones, but is neither
perpendicular to the axis
nor parallel to the a
generator.

 An ellipse is the set of all points P in a plane such

that the sum of the distances of P from two fixed
points on the plane is constant.
The two fixed points are called foci and denoted
by F and F.

P(x,y)

P(x,y)

 Definition demonstrated by using two tacks and a

length of string to draw an ellipse

 Let 1 + 2 = 2
Why?

Write with
dist. formula
Simplify

2
2

2
+ 2=1

where a > b

P(x, y)

V1

F1

F2

V2

 The equation of an ellipse with center at the origin,

length of major axis 2a, length of minor axis 2b,
where a > b > 0 is:
2
2

2
+ 2

= 1 if the major axis is horizontal

Note: 2 = 2 2

 The equation of an ellipse with center at the

origin, length of major axis 2a, length of minor
axis 2b, where a > b > 0 is:
2 2
+ 2=1
2

if the major axis is vertical

Note: 2 = 2 2

 An ellipse has two latera recta (plural of latus rectum),

which are chords of the ellipse perpendicular to the
major axis and containing the foci.
2
2
If = , then 2 + 2 =

Solving for y in this equation,

Thus, one latus rectum has endpoints

endpoints

2
,

2
,

, while the other has

. In both cases the length is

22
.

 To sketch the graph of an ellipse we need to plot the

following points:
the vertices
the covertices
the foci
the endpoints
of the latus
rectum

Horizontal

Vertical

= ; where > > 0

= ; where > > 0

Vertices: , 0

Vertices: 0,

Covertices: 0,

Covertices: , 0

Foci: , 0

Foci: 0,

LR:

2
,

LR:

2
,

length of major axis: 2 ; length of minor axis: 2;

22
length of latus rectum:

2 = 2 2

1. Sketch the ellipse 4 2 + 9 2 = 36

2. Sketch the ellipse 16 2 + 9 2 = 144
3. Write the equation of an ellipse with center at the
origin and satisfying the given conditions.
a. vertex at (4, 0) and foci at (2, 0)
b. foci at (0, 4) and a vertex at (0, 6)
c. focus at (0, -7) and length of major axis 50
d. vertex at (15, 0) and length of LR 32/5

 Definition:
If the axes of an ellipse are parallel to the coordinate axes and
the center is at (h, k), we can obtain its equation by simply
subtracting h from x and k from y in the standard equation of
an ellipse.
2
2
xh
yk
If major axis is horizontal then

y k x h
2

If major axis is vertical then

General Form:

2 + 2 + + + = 0

Horizontal

Vertical
Center (, )

Vertices: ,

Vertices: ,

Covertices: ,

Covertices: ,

Foci: ,

Foci: ,

Example:
Sketch the graph of :

162 + 92 + 64 18 71 = 0

Example:
Sketch the graph of :

x2 + 4y2 + 6x + 16y + 21 = 0

Write the equation of the ellipse that satisfies the

given conditions:
1. Center at (5, 1), vertex at (5, 4), end of minor
axis at (3, 1)
2. Ends of minor axis at (-1, 2) and (-1, 4); focus
at (1, 3)
3. Foci at (4, 2) and 10, 2 and a vertex at
12, 2

Write the equation of the ellipse that satisfies the

given conditions:
3. Vertices at (-1, 3) and (5, 3); length of minor
axis 4

4. Center at (-2, 2), vertex at (-2, 6), focus at (-2,

2 + 3 )

Example:
Sketch the graph of

162 + 252 + 160 + 200 + 400 = 0

 Each ellipse is associated with a number, called the

eccentricity.
Eccentricity is the ratio of the distance from center to focus to
the distance from center to vertex. For any ellipse, the
eccentricity is
distance from center to focus

=
= =
distance from center to vertex

The eccentricity of an ellipse satisfies the inequality 0 < <

1.
It gives a measure of the shape of the ellipse: the closer the
eccentricity is to 0, the more nearly circular is the ellipse.

 Ellipses with
different
eccentricities

Write the equation of the ellipse that satisfies

the given conditions:
Eccentricity is ; center at the origin, and
vertex at (0, 4).

Approximating a distance in an
elliptical path

Halleys comet has an elliptical orbit with

eccentricity = 0.967. The closest that
Halleys comet comes to the sun is
0.587 . Approximate the maximum
distance of the comet from the sun, to the
nearest 0.1 .
* astronomical unit used to specify large distances
(average distance from earth to the sun)
1 = 93, 000, 000

The moons orbit is an ellipse with the

earth at one focus. The length of the major
axis is 478,000 miles and the eccentricity
= 0.0549. Find the least and greatest
distances from the earth to the moon.

 Orbiting satellites (including the earth and the

moon) trace out elliptical paths.

 Many buildings and bridges use the ellipse as a

pleasing (and strong) shape.

 Many buildings and bridges use the ellipse as a

pleasing (and strong) shape.

 Many buildings and bridges use the ellipse as a

pleasing (and strong) shape.

1.) A bridge is supported on an elliptical arch ( half an

ellipse) of height 12 meters and width at the base
of 40 meters. Find the clearance under the bridge
at 10 m from the center of the arch.

2.) A cabinet maker wants to build a table with an

elliptic top. It is to be 120 inches long and 50
inches wide at its widest point. He uses two pins
and a string to draw the top. How far apart should
he position the pins and how long should the string
be?