MATH 04 The Ellipse 1

The Ellipse
From a Conic Perspective
An ellipse is the curve which results from

slicing a cone by a plane which is parallel to no
generator of the cone. A point is a degenerate of
the ellipse.
Definition of Ellipse

An ellipse is the locus of all points in a plane
such that the sum of the distances from two
fixed points in the plane, and called the foci
(plural of focus), is constant.
Hence, d1 + d2 = a constant value.

Important Concepts in an Ellipse
Foci – the two fixed
points, , whose distances Foci
from a single point on the
ellipse is a constant.
Major axis – the line that

contains the foci and goes
through the center of the
ellipse.
Vertices – the two points
of intersection of the
ellipse and the major axis, Minor
. axis Major
Minor axis – the line axis
Vertice
that is perpendicular to
s
the major axis and goes
through the center of
the ellipse.
Deriving the Equation of an Ellipse
To find the equation of an ellipse, let the center

be at (0, 0).
The vertices on the axes are at (a, 0), (-a, 0)
and (0, b) (0, -b).
The foci are at (c, 0) and (-c, 0).
Note that, the distance from (-c, 0) to (a, 0)
added to the distance from (-a, 0) to (-c, 0) is
the same as going from (-a, 0) to (a, 0) which is a
distance of 2a.
Therefore, d1 + d2 = 2a. Using the distance
formula, 2 2 2 2
( x  c)  y  ( x  c)  y 2a
Simplifying the equation:
( x  c) 2  y 2  ( x  c) 2  y 2 2a
2 2 2 2
( x  c)  y 2a  ( x  c)  y
Squaring both sides of the
equation,
( x  c) 2  y 2 4a 2  4a ( x  c) 2  y 2  ( x  c ) 2  y 2
Subtracting y2 and squaring the
binomials,
x  2 xc  c 4a  4a ( x  c) 2  y 2  x 2  2 xc  c 2
2 2 2
Simplifying:
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
x  2 xc  c 4a  4a ( x  c)  y  x  2 xc  c
Solving for the term with the square root,
 4 xc  4a 2  4a ( x  c ) 2  y 2
xc  a 2 a ( x  c) 2  y 2
Squaring both sides of the equation,
2
2 2
 xc  a  
 a ( x  c)2  y 2 
Simplifying the equation:

2
2 2
 xc  a  
 a ( x  c)  y 2 2

2 2
x c  2 xca  a a 2 4 2
x
 2 xc  c  y  2 2 2
x 2 c 2  2 xca 2  a 4 a 2 x 2  2 xca 2  a 2 c 2  a 2 y 2
2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 2
x c  a a x  a c  a y
Getting the x terms, y terms, and other
terms
2 2together,
x c  a x   a y a c  a
2 2 2 2 2 2 4
Simplifying:
x c 2 2
 a x   a y a c  a
2 2 2 2 2 2 4
 c 2
 a 2
 x 2
 a 2 2
y a 2
 c 2
 a 2

Dividing both sides by a2(c2-a2),
c 2
 a2  x2 a y
 2 2
2 2
 2 2
a2  c2  a2 
a2  c2  a2  a  c  a  a  c  a2 
2
x2 y2
2
 2 1
a c  a 2
x2 y2
2
 2 1
a c  a 2
Change the sign and run the negative through

the denominator.
x2 y2
2
 2 2 1
a a  c 
At this point, let’s pause and investigate a2 – c2.
Note that, d1 + d2 must equal 2a. However, the
triangle created is an isosceles triangle and d1 =
d2. Therefore, d1 and d2 for the point (0, b) must
both equal to a.
This creates a right triangle with hypotenuse of
length “a” and legs of length “b” and “c”. Using
the Pythagorean theorem, b2 + c2 = a2.
Therefore,
2 2
x y
2
 2 2 1 and b2 + c2 = a2
a a  c 
b2 = a2 – c2
Substituting for a2 - c2
2 2
x y
2
 2 1 where c2 = |a2 – b2|
a b
Standard Equation of an Ellipse
Therefore, the standard form of an ellipse centered at
the origin with the major axis of length 2a along the x-
axis and a minor axis of length 2b along the y-axis, is:
2 2
x y
2
 2 1
a b
where c2 = |a2 – b2| and
c is the distance from the
center to the foci. Hence,
a>b>0
However, the standard form of an ellipse centered at
the origin with the major axis of length 2a along the y-
axis and a minor axis of length 2b along the x-axis, is:
2 2

� �
2
+ 2 =1
� �
where c2 = |a2 – b2| and

c is the distance from the
center to the foci. Hence,
a>b>0
Shifting the graph over h units and up k units, the standard form
of an ellipse centered at any point (h, k) with the major axis of
length 2a parallel to the x-axis and a minor axis of length 2b
parallel to the y-axis, is:
2 2
 x  h  y  k where c2 = |a2 – b2|
2
 2
1 and
a b c is the distance from
the center to the foci.
Vertices are “a” units
in the x direction and
b
“b” units in the y
a a direction.
c c
b The foci are “c” units
in the direction of the
longer (major) axis.
The standard form of an ellipse centered at any point (h, k)
with the major axis of length 2a parallel to the y-axis and a
minor axis of length 2b parallel to the x-axis, is:
�
− �
¿
¿
¿ 2
¿
2
( � − h)
+¿
�2
C
where c2 = |a2 – b2| 
and c is the
distance from the
center to the foci.
General Form of Equation of an Ellipse
By expanding the standard form of equation of an

ellipse, we create the general form of equation of
an ellipse which is:2
Ax + Cy + Dx + Ey + F = 0
2
where A · C > 0 and A ≠ C
When A ≠ C, and A · C > 0, the resulting

conic is an ellipse.
If | A | > | C |, it is a vertical ellipse.
If | A | < | C |, it is a horizontal ellipse.

Example 1. Sketching an Ellipse

Find the foci, vertices and lengths of the
major and minor axes then sketch the
graph of the ellipse given the equations
below:
Example 2. Finding the equation of an ellipse

Given the following characteristics of
the ellipse, find its equation:
• V and F
• C(2, 2), and
• C(0, 0), V(0, -4) and passes
through
• Horizontal major axis of length
10, C(0,0) and passes through
Example 3. Applications
1. Consider a semi-ellipsoidal whispering room

wherein the longest distance from wall to wall
is 40 ft and the highest point of ceiling is 12 ft
from the floor. If two friends want to validate if
indeed the room is a whispering gallery, how
far should they stay from the center of the
room? How far should they be from each
other?
2. The arch of a bridge forms the upper half of
an ellipse. The highest point of the arch is 6m
above the 20-m wide river. Write the equation
of the ellipse in which the major axis coincides
with the water level.
3. An ice rink is in the shape of an ellipse, and is
150 feet long and 75 feet wide. What is the

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The Ellipse

From a Conic Perspective

An ellipse is the curve which results from

Hence, d1 + d2 = a constant value.

Major axis – the line that

To find the equation of an ellipse, let the center

Simplifying the equation:

Change the sign and run the negative through

where c2 = |a2 – b2| and

By expanding the standard form of equation of an

where A · C > 0 and A ≠ C

When A ≠ C, and A · C > 0, the resulting

If | A | > | C |, it is a vertical ellipse.

If | A | < | C |, it is a horizontal ellipse.

1. Consider a semi-ellipsoidal whispering room

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