Ellipses 10-3
Ellipses 10-3
Lesson 10-3
Ellipses
Creating your own ellipse is easy if you can affix a loose string at
both ends and use a pencil.
Diagram of an Ellipse (horizontally oriented)
x h y k 1
2 2
a2 b2
y k x h
2 2
1
a2 b2
This ellipse is vertically oriented … “a” is the largest segment and it is
the denominator of the “y” term.
x 3 y 2
2 2
For the ellipse 1 find the center, vertices, foci,
and eccentricity. 25 16
Foci: these are a distance “c” from the enter along the major axis.
Remember: a2 – b2 = c2 ... By substitution we have
25 – 16 = c2 Foci are located 3 units to either
9 = c2 side of the center: (0, -2) & (6, -2)
3=c
Find the orientation, center, foci, vertices, eccentricity of each ellipse.
y 2 x 5
2 2
1
169 144
Orientation: vertical
Center: (5, 2)
a = 13 and b = 12
c=5
e = c/a = 5/13
The Summary: