Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy.

, India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae

Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India

A.P, TELANGANA, KARNATAKA, TAMILNADU, MAHARASHTRA, DELHI, RANCHI
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Read, Revise & Retain (R R R – Concept)
Mathematics Concepts and Formulae
Ellipse
Ellipse is the locus of a point in a plane which moves in such a way that the ratio of the
distance from a fixed point (focus) in the same plane to its distance from a fixed straight
line (directrix) is always constant, which is always less than unity.

Major and Minor Axes

The line segment through the foci of the ellipse with its end points on the ellipse, is
called its major axis.

The line segment through the centre and perpendicular to the major axis with its end
points on the ellipse is called its minor axis.

x2 y2
Horizontal Ellipse i.e.   1,  0  b  a 
2 2
a b

If the coefficient of x 2 has the larger denominator, then its major axis lies along the X-
axis, then it is said to be horizontal ellipse.

(i) Vertices A  a,0  , A1  a,0 

(ii) Centre O  0,0 
(iii) Length of major axis, AA1  2a ;Length of minor axis, BB1  2b

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(iv) Foci are S  ae,0  and S   ae,0 
a
(v) Equation of directrices are l : x  
e
2b2
(vi) Length of latusrectum, LL1  L ' L1 ' 
a
b2
(vii) Eccentricity e  1  1
2
a
(viii) Focal distances of point P  x, y  are SP and S1P i.e. a  ex and a  ex . Also
SP  S1P  2a = major axix
(ix) Distance between foci 2ae
2a
(x) Distance between directrices 
e

x2 y2
Vertical Ellipse i.e.   1,  0  a  b 
2 2
a b

If the coefficient of x 2 has the smaller denominator, then its major axis lies along the
y  axis , then it is said to be vertical ellipse.

(i) Vertices B  0, b  , B1  0, b 
(ii) Centre O  0,0 
(iii) Length of major axis BB1  2b Length of Minor axis AA1  2a
(iv) Foci are S  0, ae  and S1  0,  ae 
b b
(v) Equation of directrices are l : y  ; l ' y  
e e
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2a
(vi) Length of latusrectum LL1  L ' L1 ' 
b
a2
(vii) Eccentricity e  1  1
b2
(viii) Focal distance of point p  x, y  are SP and S1P i.e. b  ex and b  ex also,
SP  S1P  2b = major axis
(ix) Distance between foci  2be
2b
(x) Distance between directrices 
e

Parametric Equation

The equation x  a cos  , y  b sin  , taken together are called the parametric equation of
x2 y2
the ellipse   1 , where  is any parameter.
a2 b2

Special Form of Ellipse

if centre of the ellipse is  h, k  and the direction of the axes are parallel to the coordinate

axes, then its equation is

 x  h 2   y  k 2 1
2 2
a b

Ordinate and Double Ordinate

Let P be any point on the ellipse and PN be perpendicular to the major axis AA ' , such
that PN produced meets the ellipse at P ' . Then PN is called the ordinate of
P and PNP ' is the double ordinate of P .

Position of a Point with respect to an Ellipse

The point  x1 , y1  lies outside, on or inside the ellipse.

x2 y2 x12 y12
  1 According as   1  0,  , or  0 .
a2 b2 a2 b2

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 Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae
Auxiliary Circle

x2 y2
The ellipse   1 , becomes x 2  y 2  a 2 . If b  a . This is called auxiliary circle
a 2 b2
of the ellipse. i.e. the circle described on the major axis of an ellipse as diameter is called
auxiliary circle.

Eccentric Angle of Point

x2 y2
Let P be any point on the ellipse   1 . Draw PM perpendicular from P on the
2 2
a b
major axis of the ellipse and produce MP to the auxiliary circle Q . Join CQ .

The ACQ   is called the eccentric angle of the point P on the ellipse.

Equation of Tangent

x2 y2
(i) Point Form: The equation of the tangent to the ellipse   1 at the point  x1 , y1 
2 2
a b
xx1 yy1
is   1 (or) T  0
a 2 b2
(ii) Parametric Form: The equation of the tangents to the ellipse at the point
x y
 a cos  , b sin   is cos  sin   1
a b
x2 y2
(iii) Slope Form: The equation of the tangent of slope m to the ellipse   1 are
2 2
a b
y  mx  a 2 m2  b2 and the coordinates of the point of contact are
 a 2m b2 
 , 
 2 2 2 
 a m b a 2m2  b2 

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 Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae
(iv) Point of intersection of two tangents The equation of the tangents to the ellipse at
x y
points P  a cos1.b sin 1  and Q  a cos  2 , b sin  2  are cos 1  sin 1  1
a b
x y
and cos  2  sin  2  1 and these two intersect at the point
a b
  1  2   1   2  
 a cos  2  b sin  2  
  ,  
  1   2   1   2  
 cos  2  cos  2  
     
(v) Pair of Tangents The combined equation of the pair of tangents drawn a point  x1 , y1 
 x2 y2 2
x2
 x2 y 2 y2 1 1
  xx
1 yy1 
to the ellipse   1 is    1    1     1 i.e.
a 2 b2  a 2 b2  a 2 b 2   a 2 b2 
  
SS1  T 2

Director Circle

The locus of the point of intersection of perpendicular tangents to an ellipse is a director

x2 y2
circle. If equation of an ellipse is   1 then equation of director circle is
a2 b2
x 2  y 2  a 2  b2

Equation of Chord

Let P  a cos , b sin   and Q  a cos  , b sin   be any two point of the ellipse
x2 y2
 1
2 2
a b

(i) The equation of the chord joining these points will be

b sin   b sin 
 y  b sin     x  a cos 
a cos   a cos
x     y       
Orcos    sin    cos  
y  2  b  2   2 
(ii) The equation of the chord of contact of tangents drawn from a point  x1 , y1  to the
x2 y2 xx1 yy1
ellipse.   1 is   1 or T  0
2 2 2 2
a b a b

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 Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae
2 2
x y
(iii) The equation of the chord of the ellipse   1 bisected at the point  x1 , y1  is
a2 b2
xx1 yy1 x12 y12
given by  1   1
a2 b2 a2 b2
or T  S1

Equation of Normal

x2 y2
(i) Point Form The equation of the normal at  x1 , y1  to the ellipse   1 is
a2 b2
a 2 x b2 y
  a 2  b2
x1 y1
x2 y2
(ii) Parametric Form The equation of the normal to the ellipse   1 at
2 2
a b
 a cos , b sin   is ax sec   by cos ec   a 2  b 2
x2 y2
(iii) Slope Form The equation of the normal of slope m to the ellipse   1 are
a2 b2

given by y  mx 

m a 2  b2  and the coordinates of the point of contact are
2 2 2
a b m
 a2 b2 m 
  
 2 2 2 2 2 2 
 a b m a b m 
(iv) Point of Intersection of Two Normals Point of intersection of the normal at points
 a cos 1, b sin 1  and  a cos  2 , b sin  2  are given by
    2  
 cos  1  
 2  2  
2
 a  b cos  cos  2 
 1 2 
a     
 cos  1 2  
  2  
  1   2  


2
 a b 2
 
sin 1 sin  2
sin 
 2 

 b    
 cos  1 2  
  2 
2

(v) If the line y  mx  c is a normal to the ellipse

x 2

y 2
 1 , then c 2 

m2 a 2  b 2 
a2 b2 a 2  b2 m2
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 Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae
Conormal Points

The points on the ellipse, the normals at which the ellipse passes through a given point are
called conormal points.

Here, P, Q, R and S are the conormal points.

x2 y2
(i) The sum of the eccentric angles of the conormal points on the ellipse,   1 is an
a2 b2
odd multiple or 
(ii) If 1 , 2 ,3 and  4 are eccentric angle of four points on the ellipse, the normals at which
are concurrent, then
 a   cos 1   2   0
 b   sin 1   2   0
x2 y2
(iii) If 1 , 2 and 3 are the eccentric angles of three points on the ellipse   1 , such
a 2 b2
that sin 1  2   sin 2  3   sin 3   1  0 then the normal at these point are
concurrent
(iv) If the normal at four points P  x1 , y1  , Q  x2 , y2  , R  x3 , y3  and S  x4 , y4  on the ellipse

x2 y2 1 1 1 1 
  1 are concurrent, then  x1  x2  x3  x4      4
a2 b2  x1 x2 x3 x4 

Conjugate Points and Conjugate Lines

Two points are said to be conjugate points with respect to an ellipes, if each lies on the
polar of the other.

Two lines are said to be conjugate lines with respect to an ellipse, if each passes through
the pole of the other.

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 Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae
Diameter and Conjugate Diameter

x2 y2
The locus of the mid-point of a system of parallel chords of an ellipse   1 is
a2 b2
b2
called a diameter, whose equation of diameter is y   x Two diameters of an
2
a m
ellipse are said to be conjugate diameters, if each bisects the chords parallel to the other.

Properties of Conjugate Diameters

(i) The eccentric angles of the ends of a pair of conjugate diameters of an ellipse differ by a
right angle.
(ii) The sum of the squares of any two conjugate semi-diameters of an ellipse is constant and
equal to the sum of the squares of the semi-axis of the ellipse i.e.. CP 2  CD 2  a 2  b2
x2 y2
(iii) If PCP ', QCQ ' are two conjugate semi-diameters of an ellipse   1 S , S1 be two
a2 b2

foci of an ellipse, then SP  S1P  CQ 2

(iv) The tangent at the ends of a pair of conjugate diameters of an ellipse form a
parallelogram.
(v) The area of the parallelogram formed by the tangents at the ends of conjugate diameters
of an ellipse is constant and is equal to the product of the axes.

Important Point on Ellipse

x2 y2
(i) The line y  mx  c touches the ellipse   1 , if c 2  a 2 m2  b2
a 2 b2
(ii) The tangent and normal at any point of an ellipse bisect the external and internal angles
between the focal radii to the point.
(iii) If SM and S ' M ' are perpendiculars from the foci upon the tangent at any point of the
x2 y2
ellipse   1 , then SM  S ' M '  b 2 and M .M ' lie on the auxiliary circle.
2 2
a b

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 Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae
2 2
x y
(iv) If the tangent at any point P on the ellipse   1 meets the major axis in T and
a2 b2
minor axis in T ' , then CN  CT  a 2 , CN ' CT '  p 2 , where N and N ' are the foot of
the perpendiculars from P on the respective axis.
(v) The common chords of an ellipse and a circle are equally inclined to the axes of the
ellipse.
(vi) Maximum four normals can be drawn from a point to ellipse.
x2 y2 xx1 yy1
(vii) Polar of the point  x1 , y1  with respect to the ellipse   1 is  1
a2 b2 a2 b2
xx1 yy1 x2 y2
here, point  x1 , y1  is the pole of   1 with respect to ellipse  1
2 2 2 2
a b a b
x2 y2
(viii) The pole of the line lx  my  n  0 with respect to ellipse   1 is
2 2
a b
  a 2l b 2 m 
P  , 
 n n 
 
(ix) Two tangents can be drawn from a point P to an ellipse. These tangents are real and
distinct or coincident or imaginary according as the given point lies outside, on or
inside the ellipse.
(x) Tangents at the extremities of latusrectum of an ellipse intersect on the corresponding
directrix.
x2 y2 x2 y2 ex
(xi) Locus of mid-point of focal chords of an ellipse   1 is  
b2 b2 a2 b2 a
x2 y2
(xii) Point of intersection of the tangents at two points on the ellipse   1 , whose
2 2
a b
x2 y2
eccentric angles differ by a right angle lies on the ellipse  2
2 2
a b
x2 y2
(xiii) Locus of mid-point of normal chords of an ellipse   1 is
a2 b2
2
 x2 y 2   a6 b6  2
 2 2
a
 b  x
 y 

 2  2   a 2  b2 

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 Sri Chaitanya IIT Academy., India Mathematics Concepts and Formulae

x2 y2
(xiv) Eccentric angles of the extremities of latusrectum of an ellipse   1 are
a2 b2
 b 
tan 1   
 ae 
(xv) The straight lines y  m1 x and y  m2 x are conjugate diameters of an ellipse
x2 y2 b2
 1 , if m1m2   .
2 2 2
a b a
The normal at point P on an ellipsewith foci S , S1 is the internal bisector of SPS1 .

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