Module 3: ELLIPSES

I – 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; and
3. graph an ellipse in a rectangular coordinate system.

II – REFERENCES

Pelias, John Gabriel P. 2016. Pre – Calculus. Rex Book Store. Manila

Garces, Ian June L., Ph.D. 2016. Pre – Calculus. Published by the Commission on Higher Education in
collaboration with the Philippine Normal University.

III – LEARNING CONTENT

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.

Definition and Equation of an Ellipse

Consider the points F 1(−3 , 0) and F 2(3 ,0), as shown in Figure 1.19. What is the sum of the distances
of A(4 , 2.4) from F 1 and from F 2? How about the sum of the distances of B andC (0 ,−4) from F 1 and from F 2?
A F 1+ A F 2=7.4+ 2.6=10
B F 1 +B F 2=3.8+6.2=10
C F 1+ C F2 =5+5=10
There are other points P such that P F1 + P F2=10 . The collection of all such points forms a shape called an
ellipse.

Definition
An Ellipse is the locus of all points in the plane the sum of whose distances from two fixed points F 1 and
F 2 is a constant. Each of the two fixed points is called a focus of the ellipse; together, we refer to them as foci.

 Just like the parabola, an ellipse always “devours” its foci.

 The line that passes through the foci is called the principal axis of the ellipse.
 An ellipse is always symmetric about its principal axis.
 The principal axis will always hit the ellipse at exactly two points V 1 andV 2. Each of these two points is
called a vertex of the ellipse; together, they are called vertices.
 An ellipse always has two foci and two vertices.
 The midpoint C of F 1 F 2, which is also the midpoint of V 1 V 2, is called the center of the ellipse.

Equations of an Ellipse with center at the origin, in Standard Form

√
Let a> c> 0 and b= a2−c2 . An equation of the ellipse with center at the origin, and with
1. foci at F 1(−c ,0) and F 2(c , 0) and vertices at V 1 (−a ,0) and V 2 (a ,0) is:
2 2
x y
2
+ 2
=1
a b

2. foci at F 1(0 ,−c ) and F 2(0 , c) and vertices at V 1 (0 ,−a) and V 2 (0 , a) is:
2 2
y x
2
+ 2
=1
a b
 ADDENDA:
 How are a , b , and c are related? The definition of b can be rewritten as b 2=a2−c 2 , or
2 2 2
a =b +c . Thus, a is always the largest among the three quantities.
 The distance between the two foci is 2 c .
 The segment V 1 V 2 is called the major axis of the ellipse. Its length is always 2 a . Now, the
segment of length 2 bthat perpendicularly bisects and is perpendicularly bisected by the major
axis is called the minor axis,W 1 W 2 . Its endpoints will also be on the ellipse.
 Points W 1 and W 2 , are called the covertices of an ellipse.

2 2
x y
Example 1. Give the coordinates of the foci, vertices, and covertices of the ellipse with equation + =1.
25 9
Sketch the graph, and include these points.

Solution:
 a 2=25 , thus a=√ 25=5
 b 2=9 , thusb=√ 9=3
 c= √ a 2−b2 =√ 25−9=√ 16=4
2 2
x y
 Form of Equation: 2 + 2 =1 (a 2=25 , thelargestquantity is together with x 2 . ¿
a b
o Foci: F 1 (−4 , 0 )∧F 2 (4 , 0)
o Vertices: V 1 (−5 ,0 )∧V 2 (5 , 0)

( )
2
9 b 9
o Covertices: W 1 ( 0 ,−3 )∧W 2 (0 ,3) 4 , ; y= =
5 a 5

Example 2. Find the (standard) equation of the ellipse whose foci are F 1(−3 , 0) and F 2(3 ,0), such that for any
point on it, the sum of its distances from the foci is 10. See Figure 1.19.

(Defined from the sum of whose distances from the foci is 10)
Solution:

(observed from the coordinates of the foci)

 2 a=10 ,thus a=5
 c=3
2
√
 b= a −c =√ 25−9=√ 16=4
2

2 2
x y
 Form of Equation: 2
+ 2 =1 (c is onthe x−coordinate ,together with a ¿
a b
2 2 2 2
x y x y
o 2
+ 2
=1 → + =1
5 4 25 16

More Properties of Ellipses

 √
In all four cases above, a> b andc= a 2−b2 . The foci F 1and F 2are c units away from the center. The
vertices V 1and V 2are a units away from the center, the major axis has length 2 a, the covertices W 1 and W 2 are b
units away from the center, and the minor axis has length2 b. Recall that, for any point on the ellipse, the sum of
its distances from the foci is2 a.
In the standard equation, if the x−¿ part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse is horizontal. If the y−¿
part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse is vertical.

Example [Link] the coordinates of the center, foci, vertices, and covertices of the ellipse with the given equation.
Sketch the graph, and include these points.

2 2
( x +3) ( y −5)
a. + =1
24 49
Solution:
 a 2=49 , thus a= √ 49=7
 b 2=24 , thus b= √ 24 ≈ 4.9
√
 c= a 2−b2 =√ 49−24= √ 25=5
2 2
( y −k ) (x−h)
 Form of Equation: + =1
a2 b2
(vertical; y− part has the greatest denominator).
o Center: (−3 , 5)
o Foci: F 1 (−3 , 0 )∧F 2 (−3 , 10)
o Vertices: V 1 (−3 ,−2 )∧V 2 (−3 ,12)
o Covertices: W 1 (−3−4.9 , 5 )∧W 2(−3+4.9 , 5)
W 1 (−7.9 ,5 )∧W 2 (1.9 , 5)

b. 2 2
9 x + 16 y −126 x+ 64 y=71
Solution:
We first change the given equation to standard form.
2 2
(9 x −126 x)+(16 y +64 y )=71 Grouping
2 2
9( x −14 x)+16( y + 4 y )=71 Factoring
9 ( x −14 x + 49 ) +16 ( y +4 y+ 4 )=71+9 ( 49 ) +16(4) Completing the Square
2 2

2 2
9(x−7) 16 ( y +2) 576
+ = Divide by 576 to make the coefficient on
576 576 576
the right side equal to 1.
2 2
( x−7) ( y +2)
+ =1
64 36
2
 a =64 , a=8
2
 b =36 , b=6
 c= √a 2−b2 =√64−36=√ 28 ≈ 5.3
 The ellipse is horizontal; x-part has the greatest denominator.
o Center: (7 ,−2)
o Foci: F 1 ( 7−5.3 ,−2 ) ∧F 2 (7+ 5.3 ,−2)
F 1 ( 1.7 ,−2 )∧F 2 (12.3 ,−2)
o Vertices: V 1 ( 7−8 ,−2 )∧V 2 (7 +8 ,−2)
V 1 (−1,−2 )∧V 2 (15 ,−2)
o Covertices: W 1 ( 7 ,−2−6 ) ∧W 2 (7 ,−2+ 6)
W 1 ( 7 ,−8 )∧W 2(7 , 4)
Example [Link] 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.

Solution:
 Center is the midpoint of foci.

C= ( −3+ (−3 ) −6+2

2
,
2
=
−6 −4
,
2 2 )(
=(−3 ,−2 ) )
 The ellipse is vertical (because the foci are vertically aligned).
 c=4 ; distance ¿ the center ¿ the foci .
 From the given sum, 2 a=14 so a=7
 b=√ a2−c2 =√7 2−4 2=√ 49−16=√33
2 2
( y −k ) (x−h)
 Equation: + =1 →¿ ¿ ¿
a2 b2
Example [Link] 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.

Solution:
 The midpoint (2 ,−5) of the vertices is the center of the ellipse, which is horizontal
 Each vertex is a=√ 61 units away from the center
 From the length of the minor axis, 2 b=12 sob=6 .
2 2
( x−2) ( y+ 5)
o Equation: + =1
61 36
 √
Each focus is c= a 2−b2 =√ 61−36=√ 25=5 units away from (2 ,−5).
o Foci: F 1 ( 2−5 ,−5 )∧F 2 (2+5 ,−5)
F 1 (−3 ,−5 )∧F 2 (7 ,−5)

Situational Problems Involving Ellipses

Example 6.A tunnel has the shape of a semi ellipse that is 15 ft high at the center, and 36 ft across at the base.
At most how high should a passing truck be, if it is 12 ft wide, for it to be able to fit through the tunnel? Round off
your answer to two decimal places.

Solution. Refer to the figure above. If we draw the semi ellipse on a rectangular coordinate system, with its center
at the origin, an equation of the ellipse which contains it, is
2 2
x y
2
+ 2 =1
18 15
To maximize its height, the corners of the truck, as shown in the figure, would have to just touch the ellipse. Since
the truck is 12 ft wide, let the point (6 , n) be the corner of the truck in the first quadrant, where n> 0, is the
(maximum) height of the truck. Since this point is on the ellipse, it should fit the equation. Thus, we have
2 2
6 n
2
+ 2 =1
18 15

( )
2
2 6
2
n =15 1− 2
18
n=√ 200≈ 14.14 ft