2.
3 The Ellipse
1. Sketch points F1 (−3,0) and F2 (3,0) on a Cartesian plane. Compute
a) The sum of the distances from (5,0) to F1 and F2 .
b) Find any other points on the x-axis such that the sum of distances to F1 and
F2 is 10.
c) Find both points on the y-axis such that the sum of the distances to F1 and F2
is 10.
d) Sketch the locus of points (x,y) in the plane such that the sum of the distances
to F1 and F2 is 10. ( F1 and F2 are called foci)
2. Unlike circles, which have a fixed radius in all directions, ellipses have two unequal
axes: a major axis (the longer length from end to end) and a minor axis (the
shorter length from end to end). End points of the major axis are called vertices.
We will call the distance from the center to a vertex a, the distance from the center
to the foci c and the distance from the center to the endpoints of the minor axis b.
Find the values of a, b or c for the ellipse above.
3. An ellipse is the locus of points (x,y) whose sums of distances to two fixed points
(called Foci (singular is focus)) is constant.
We wish to write a general equation for an ellipse whose center is (0,0).
a) Sketch an ellipse such that:
i. The vertices are (-a,0) and (a,0)
ii. The foci are F1 (-c,0) and F2 (c,0)
iii. The end points of its minor axis are (0,-b) and (0 , b)
b) You will now determine the fixed constant that all sums of distances to the two foci
must equal.
i. Find the length, in terms of a from (a,0) to F1
ii. Find the length from (a, 0) to F2
iii. Add. This quantity is the sum of distances from any point (x,y) to the Foci, as
this sum remains constant. It is also the length of the major axis.
c) We wish to determine the relationship between a, b and c .
i. Draw line segments from (0,b) to each focus.
ii. What is the sum of the lengths of those two line segments, considering the
constant sum idea?
iii. Determine the relationship between a, b and c by focusing on one of the right
triangles in your sketch.
d) Write two expressions, each representing the distance from a point (x,y) on the
ellipse to each of F1 (-c ,0) and F2 (c ,0). Then add them.
e) Use the locus definition of an ellipse (the locus of points whose sums of distances
from two fixed points is constant) to set up an equation which represents an ellipse.
f) We will go over, as a class, how to manipulate this equation into the standard form
x2 y2
of a horizontal ellipse centered at (0,0): 2 + 2 = 1
a b
x2 y2
4. Given an equation + = 1, determine which of p or q is greater if:
p2 q2
a) The major axis is horizontal;
b) The major axis is vertical.
5. If the center of an ellipse were moved from the origin to (h,k).
a) State the equation of this ellipse?
b) Sketch the ellipse assuming the major axis is horizontal.
c) Give the equation of the line that would contain its major axis?
d) Determine the coordinates of the vertices.
6. 4 ( x − 1) + 9 ( y + 2 ) = 36
2 2
a) Rewrite the equation in standard form.
b) Graph
c) Find the equation of the line that contains the major axis.
d) Find the coordinates of the foci.
7. Find the equation of the locus of points whose sum of distances to (4,3) and (-2,3) is
8.
8. Find the center, vertices, and foci: 4x 2 + y 2 − 8x + 4 y − 8 = 0 .
9. The equation of an ellipse is 3(𝑥 − 1)! + 4(𝑦 + 2)! = 9; What is the equation of the
line that contains the minor axis? What is the length of the minor axis?
10. If the length of a major axis of an ellipse is 6, and one focus is (1,3) and the center is
(1,1), find the equation of the ellipse.
11. If the vertices of an ellipse are (1,3) and (5,5),
a) What is the center of the ellipse?
b) Find the equation of the line that contains the foci.
c) Sketch the ellipse.
d) If an endpoint of the minor axis has an x-coordinate of 2.5, find the y-
coordinate of this point.