PRECALCULUS ( SCRIPT )
Hi, classmate? What? You missed the Conic Section: Ellipse on Precalculus discussion? Don't
worry; I've got you covered.
Did you know that my favorite conic shape is the ellipse?
Because ellipses have a really cool reflective property.
I'm Rochelle Jamon. From Grade 11-Kepler.
And in this video, I'll go over the conic section: Ellipse.
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Based on the illustration here, an ellipse will be formed when there is a double-napped and if the
plane interse cts one nappe at an angle to the axis (other than 90 degree). This figure that is
formed, which is the ellipse, is our focus for today’s lesson.
In the conic section, the ellipse is defined as the set of all points P, the sum of whose distances
from two specified points, F 1and F 2, is a constant number.
Elements of Ellipse: In a graph of ellipse we have:
Center
It is the center of our ellipse. In this case, the center is at the origin.
The major axis
It is the long diameter.
Vertex
The 2 end points of major axis. Designated as V 1∧V 2
The minor axis
It is the short diameter.
Co-vertices
The 2 end points of minor axis. Designated as W 1∧W 2
Foci : F 1∧F2
These are the two fixed points. Our focus points, Focus 1 and Focus 2, are located at the major
axis and have a distance shorter than the vertex.
Latera recta
It is the two latus rectum . It is the segment cut by the ellipse passing through the foci and
perpendicular to the major axis.
The ellipse has four standard forms, which are shown here. So I created an ellipse table to help
you identify which ellipse you have and what its graph should look like if it is in standard form.
This table can serve as a guide for you. It should be noted that in all cases, a > b and c¿ √ a2−b2.
Example:
Give the coordinates of the center, foci, latera recta,vertices & co-vertices of the ellipse
x 2+ 5 y 2 −¿8𝑥−30𝑦−39=0. Sketch the graph.
As you can see ellipse x 2+ 5 y 2 −¿8𝑥−30𝑦−39=0 is in general form. Also, if the given equation is
in general form, you must first transform it into standard form before proceeding to solve it, to
find its standard equation we need to use the completing the square method.
So the first thing we will go to do is group the x’s and y’s together, and we will transfer the
constant to the other side of the equation. Before proceeding to completing the square, we must
first isolate the coefficient from x 2∧ y 2. After that, we can now proceed to completing the square
in this equation.
To find the special number that will complete the square, just take half of the middle term and
square it.
And all of the numbers that are added when completing the square are also added to the right
side of the equation. And, before adding it to the right side of the equation, the special number
from completing the square must be multiplied by the isolated coefficient. Then simply. To get
the standard form, we must divide the whole equation into terms on the right hand side of the
equation. This is our standard form.
( solution w/ answer )
( x−4)2 ( y−3)2
+ =¿ 1
100 20
Based on the ellipse table from earlier, our ellipse is this one and its graph should look like this.
But before we proceed to graphing,
We must first find the coordinates.
Give the coordinates of the center, foci, latera recta, vertices & co-vertices. Sketch the graph.
( x−4)2 ( y−3)2
+ =¿ 1
100 20
Center:
Based on the standard form center is at h,k
C (4,3)
Foci:
Focus F 1∧F2 . It is the distance of our foci from the center designated as variable c
Foci is located at the major axis so from the center were going to add and ± c to 4 and just copy
3 to gets our foci)
Has a formula ±c+ 4; c 2 =
√ a2−b 2 , 100 is greater that 20 so∈that case a2 is 100∧b2 20.c= √ 100−20= √ 80=4 √ 5 ; c=4 √ 5
F 1(4 √5+ 4,3 ¿∧F 2 (−4 √ 5+4,3)
Vertices:
Vertex V 1∧V 2. It is the distance of our vertexes from the center designated as variable a
Vertexes is also located at the major axis so from the center were going to add ±a to 4 and just
copy 3 o gets our 2 vertices.
has a formula ± a+ 4 ; a2=100;a=√ 100=10
V 1 (14,3) & V 2(-6,3)
Co-vertices:
Co- vertex W1 & W2 .It is the distance of our co-vertexes from the center designated as variable
b
Co-vertices is located at the major axis so from the center were going to add ±b to 3 and just
copy 4 to gets our 2 co-vertices.
Has a formula ± b+¿3; b 2=20;b=√ 20=2√ 5
W 1(4, 2√ 5+3 ¿ & W 2 ( 4, -2√ 5+3 ¿
Latera recta:
Two latus rectum . It is the segment cut by the ellipse passing through the foci and perpendicular
to the major axis.
b2
Has a formula for the 2 points of first segment (h-c for x , k ± for y ¿ for the 2 points of the
a
2
b
second segment (h+c for x, k± for y )
a
LR : ( 4- 4√ 5 ,5 ¿∧( 4−4 √5 , 1)
( 4+4√ 5 ,5 ¿∧(4+ 4 √ 5 ,1)
( x−4)2
This is the graph of ellipse x 2+ 5 y 2 −¿8𝑥−30𝑦−39=0 transfrom to standard equation
100
( y−3)2
+ =¿ 1 and its coordinates.
20
Graph Show
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More information :
A General Equation of ellipse both
x 2∧ y 2 appear ,∧their coefficients A∧B have same sign∧are unequal .if the coefficients A and B
are equal its either circle, a point or an empty set.
So it is safe to say that if the given equation is on general form we must transform it to standard
form by completing the square to verify if it is a conic section or a degenerated case.
That's it for ellipse classmate. I hope everything I say is crystal clear to you.
Thank you, and please stay safe!
I look forward to seeing you soon.
