STEMPC13 PRECALCULUS
Chapter 3. Ellipse
Learning Outcomes of the Lesson
At the end of the lesson, the student is able to:
(1) define an ellipse;
(2) determine the standard form of equation of an ellipse;
Introduction
An ellipse is one of the conic sections that most students have not encountered formally
before, unlike circles and parabolas. Its shape is a bounded curve which looks like a flattened
circle. The orbits of the planets in our solar system around the sun happen to be elliptical in shape.
Also, just like parabolas, ellipses have reflective properties that have been used in the construction
of certain structures (shown in some of the practice problems). We will see some properties and
applications of ellipses in this section.
Consider the points F1(−3, 0) and F2(3, 0), as shown in Figure 1 below. What is the sum
of the distances of A(4, 2.4) from F1 and from F2? How about the sum of the distances of B (and
C(0,−4)) from F1 and from F2?
There are other points P such that PF1 + PF2 = 10. The collection of all such points forms a shape
called an ellipse.
Figure 1 Figure 2
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STEMPC13 PRECALCULUS
Given are two points on the x-axis, F1(−c, 0) and F2(c, 0), the foci, both c units away from their
center (0, 0). See Figure 2. Let P(x, y) be a point on the ellipse. Let the common sum of the
distances be 2a (the coefficient 2 will make computations simpler). Thus, we have PF1 + PF2 =
2a.
When we let 𝑏 = √𝑎2 − 𝑐 2 , we assume 𝑎 > 𝑐. To see why this is true, look at ∆𝑃𝐹1 𝐹2 in Figure
2. By the Triangle Inequality, 𝑃𝐹1 + 𝑃𝐹2 > 𝐹1 𝐹2 , which implies 2𝑎 > 2𝑐, so 𝑎 > 𝑐.
We collect here the features of the graph of an ellipse with standard equation
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ 𝑏2 = 1 , where 𝑎 > 𝑏. Let 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 ,
𝑎2
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(1) center: origin (0, 0)
(2) foci : F1(−c, 0) and F2(c, 0)
• Each focus is c units away from the center.
• For any point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances from the foci is 2a.
(3) vertices: V1(−a, 0) and V2(a, 0)
• The vertices are points on the ellipse, collinear with the center and foci.
• If y = 0, then x = ±a. Each vertex is a units away from the center.
• The segment V1V2 is called the major axis. Its length is 2a. It divides the ellipse into
two congruent parts.
(4) covertices: W1(0,−b) and W2(0, b)
• The segment through the center, perpendicular to the major axis, is the minor axis. It
meets the ellipse at the covertices. It divides the ellipse into two congruent parts.
• If x = 0, then y = ±b. Each covertex is b units away from the center.
• The minor axis W1W2 is 2b units long. Since a > b, the major axis is longer than the
minor axis.
Example 1. Give the coordinates of the foci, vertices, and covertices of the ellipse with equation
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STEMPC13 PRECALCULUS
Example 2. Find the (standard) equation of the ellipse whose foci are F1(−3, 0) and F2(3, 0), such
that for any point on it, the sum of its distances from the foci is 10.
More Properties of Ellipses
The ellipses we have considered so far are “horizontal” and have the origin as their centers.
Some ellipses have their foci aligned vertically, and some have centers not at the origin. Their
standard equations and properties are given in the box. The derivations are more involved, but are
similar to the one above, and so are not shown anymore.
In all four cases below, a > b and 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 ,. The foci F1 and F2 are c units away from
the center. The vertices V1 and V2 are a units away from the center, the major axis has length 2a,
the covertices W1 and W2 are b units away from the center, and the minor axis has length 2b.
Recall that, for any point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances from the foci is 2a.
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STEMPC13 PRECALCULUS
Center Corresponding Graph
(0, 0)
(h, k)
Example 3. Give the coordinates of the center, foci, vertices, and covertices
of the ellipse with the given equation. Sketch the graph, and include these points.
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Example 4. The foci of an ellipse are (−3,−6) and (−3, 2). For any point on the ellipse, the sum of
its distances from the foci is 14. Find the standard equation of the ellipse.
Example 5. An ellipse has vertices (2 − √61,−5) and (2 + √61,−5), and its minor axis is 12 units
long. Find its standard equation and its foci.
Reference:
Precalculus Initial Release June 2013 Teachers Guide
Links for Learning:
Writing Equations of Ellipses in Standard Form and Graphing Ellipses - Conic
Sections - YouTube
Ellipse standard equation from graph | Precalculus | High School Math | Khan
Academy - YouTube
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY- Analyzing and Ellipse in Filipino - YouTube
