Module 7 Lesson Two Ellipses Quiz

Please answer each question. Be sure to look back over the

feedback after your assignment has been graded.

Question 1: Numerical Fill in the Blank

How many units long is the minor axis in the given ellipse?
x2 y2
+ =1
25 100

Answer: 10

Feedback: Remember to first write the equation in standard form.

Major axis: The longest diameter of an ellipse.
Minor axis: The shortest diameter of an ellipse.

Question 2: Multiple Choice

What are the coordinates of the vertices of the given ellipse?

x2 y2  1

 
81 49

A) (-7, 0) and (7, 0)

B) (0, -7) and (0, 7)
C) (-9, 0) and (9, 0)
D) (0, -9) and (0, 9)

Answer: C
Feedback: Remember that the vertices are where the ellipse makes
the sharpest turns. These should occur on the major axis. First take
the square root of 81. We go 9 units left and right of the origin on the
x-axis to find the vertices.

Question 3: Short Answer

What is the center of this ellipse?

( x  3)2 ( y  4)2 
 1
9 36
 A) (-3, 4)
B) (-3, -4)
C) (3, 4)
D) (3, -4)

Answer: D
2 2
Feedback: The formula for an ellipse: (s–h) + (y–k) =1
a2 b2

Question 4: Multiple Choice

What are the coordinates of the foci of the ellipse in this equation:
x2 y2  1

 
16 25

A) (0, -3) and (0, 3)

B) (0, -9) and (0, 9)
C) (0, −√45 ) and (0, √45 )
D) None of these.

Answer: A

Item Specific Feedback

A. CORRECT!
B. You did not take the square root of the difference.
C. Remember that to find the foci, you will need to take the square
root of the difference in the denominators.
D. Remember that to find the foci, you will need to take the square
root of the difference in the denominators.

Question 5:

Give the point(s) of intersection of the Ellipse the line from given
below. Round to two decimal places

x2 y2 


  1

and y  10x  10
16 25
 Answer: (-0.50, 4.96) and (-1.47, -4.65)

Feedback: Try using an online graphing calculator to show you how

to graph the circle and view the intersection. To calculate the
intersection, you should substitute the line into the formula for the
ellipse. Remember that you should have two answers.

Question 6: True or False

The major axis of the ellipse from this equation is vertical.

x2 y2  1

 
81 49

Answer: False

Feedback: The major axis is horizontal since the bigger number is

underneath the “x”.

Question 7: Multiple Choice

How many units long is the major axis in the given ellipse?
x 2 y2
+ =1
64 36

A. 8
B. 64
C. 36
D. 6
E. 16

Answer: E

Feedback: Remember to first write the equation in standard form.

Major axis: The longest diameter of an ellipse.
Minor axis: The shortest diameter of an ellipse.

Item Specific Feedback

A. This is the number of units from the center to the ellipse, along
the major axis.
 B. This is the square of the number of units from the center to the
ellipse, along the major axis.
C. This is the square of the number of units from the center to the
ellipse, along the minor axis.
D. This is the number of units from the center to the ellipse, along
the minor axis.
E. CORRECT!

Question 9: Multiple Choice

What are the coordinates of the vertices of the given ellipse?

x 2 y2
+ =1
64 36

A) (-8, 0) and (8, 0)

B) (0, -6) and (0, 6)
C) (-6, 0) and (6, 0)
D) (0, -8) and (0, 8)

Answer: A

Feedback: Remember that the vertices are where the ellipse makes
the sharpest turns. These should occur on the major axis. First take
the square root of 64. We go 8 units left and right of the origin on the
x-axis to find the vertices.

Item Specific Feedback

A. CORRECT!
B. This is the square of the number of units from the center to the
ellipse, along the major axis.
C. This is the square of the number of units from the center to the
ellipse, along the minor axis.
D. This is the number of units from the center to the ellipse, along

Question 10: True or False

The minor axis of the ellipse from this equation is vertical.

x 2 y2
+ =1
25 4
Answer: True

Feedback: The minor axis is vertical since the smaller number is

underneath the “x”.