 Define ellipse.

 Derive the standard equation of ellipse.

 Identify the different parts of ellipse.
 Solve for the standard and general equation of ellipse given some of its properties.
 Sketch the graph of ellipse in cartesian coordinate system.

Ellipse is the set of all points in a plane whose sum of the distance from two fixed
point, foci, are constant.

From this definition, the standard equation of ellipse can be derived. What this full
video to learn how to derive the standard equation of ellipse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TQMJ09MLWM

General equation:
Ax2 + By2 + Cx + Dy + E = 0

This is the general equation of a circle.

Where,
 A, B, C, D, E is ℝ
 A, B > 0
 A≠B

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

 Standard equation:
(𝑥 − ℎ) (𝑦 − 𝑘)
+ =1
𝑎 𝑏
Where,
 h, k is the coordinate of the center of ellipse; h is the abscissa while k is ordinate
of the center.
 a≠b
 a, b is ℝ +

Now that we are familiar to the standard and general equation of ellipse, let’s consider
its different properties.
Co-vertex
Center
Center serves as the
reference point for your ellipse.
It’s located at coordinate (h, k).

Foci
Foci are points positioned
Vertex
inside the ellipse. It is the one
that determines the curvature Co-vertex
and shape of the ellipse. Vertex

Major Axis
Major axis is the longest line segment that passes through the center. It contains three
of the major points in your ellipse, the center and foci. It also determines the axis of the
ellipse.

Vertex
Vertex is the endpoints of the longest line segment in ellipse or the major axis.

Co-vertex
Co-vertex is the endppoints of the shortest line segment ion ellipse or the minor axis.

Minor Axis
Minor axis is the shortest line segment in ellipse that passes through the center and
perpendicular to the major axis.

Eccentricity
Eccentricity is unlike to other properties of ellipse it is not something that can be
visual seen. But it is a property that describes any conic section how it deviates from being a
circle. Ellipse has a value of eccentricity between 0 and 1.

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

 Properties Vertical Ellipse Horizontal Ellipse
a<b a>b
Axis Vertical Horizontal
Center c (h, k) c (h, k)
Foci f (h, k ± c) f (h ± c, k)
Vertex v (h, k ± b) v (h ± a, k)
Co-vertex cv (h ± a, k) cv (h, k ± b)
Major axis 2b 2a
Minor axis 2a 2b
c2 b – a2
2 a2 – b 2

1. Compute for the standard an general equation of an ellipse whose center is located
at (1, –2), vertex at (1, 3), and covertex at (–2, –2).

We start by determining the standard equation of the ellipse. To solve for the standard
equation we need to compute for the values of h, k, a, and b. But prior to getting the values
of h, k, a, and b we need to identify the axis of our ellipse. Recall that the center and vertex
lies on the same line sgement which is the major axis. We can observe from the given that
the center and vertex has the abcissa. This implies that the major axis is a vertical line
segment. Hence, the axis of the ellipse is vertical.

Now that we’ve identified the axis of the

ellipse we can now solve the h, k, a, and b.
Consider the given center of ellipse:

c (1, –2) = c (h, k) ⇒ h = 1, k = –2

After computing for h and k. We now need

to solve for a and b. Note that this is a vertical
parabola, we can get a and b through the vertex
and covertex.

v (1, 3) = v (h, k ± b) ⇒ 3 = k ± b Since we already have the value for k, substitue k.

⇒ 3 = –2 ± b Consider the equation 3 = –2 + b (Note: you can
either use + or – in the equation.)
⇒ 3 = –2 + b Solve for b.
⇒3+2=b
⇒5=b

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

 We now need to solve for a. Referring to the table we can see that a can be solved from
the covertex. Thus, let’s consider covertex:

cv (–2, –2) = cv (h ± a, k) ⇒ –2 = h ± a Consider the value for h, substitute h.

⇒ –2 = 1 ± a Use the equation 2 = 1 + a (Note: you can
either use + or – in the equation.)
⇒ –2 = 1 + a Solve for a.
⇒ –2 – 1 = a
⇒ –3 = a (Note: We define earlier that a and b
should be ℝ+. Hence, consider the
absolute value of a and b.)
⇒3=a
With that we already have the values that we need to be used for the standard
equation:

h=1 k = –2 a=3 b=5

Then, we subsitute the values to the standard equation.

Subsitute the values of h, k, a, and b to the

equation.

Perform necessary operation.

Standard equation of the ellipse.

We now solve the general equation of the ellipse.

Consider the standard equation.

25 (x – 1)2 + 9 (y + 2)2 = 225 Multiply both sides of equation by the

LCD.
25 (x2 – 2x + 1) + 9 (y2 + 4y + 4) = 225 Expand the binomial.
(25x2–50x+25)+(9y2+36y+36) = 225 Distribute the constant to the trinomial.
25 x2 – 50x + 9y2 + 36y – 164 = 0 Combine like terms.
25x + 9y – 50x + 36y – 164 = 0
2 2 General equation.

2. Compute for the standard and general equation of ellipse whose properties is
located at center (–3, 5), vertex (2, 5) and focus (0, 5).

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

 Begin by identifying the axis of the ellipse. Consider the given center and vertex, we
can observe that they both have the same ordinate. This implies that the axis of the ellipse is
horizontal. Given it is a horizontal ellipse let’s use the table for horizontal ellipse

Once the axis has been identified, we

now solve for the h, k, a, and b. Given the center
of ellipse we have:

c (–3, 5) = c (h, k) ⇒ h = –3 k= 5

Next, solve for a, and b. Referring to the

table we can see that we can solve for a using
the given vertex. In reference to the vertex, we
have:

v (2, 5) = v (h ± a, k) ⇒ 2 = h ± a
⇒ 2 = –3 ± a Substitute the value of h.
⇒ 2 = –3 + a Use the equation 1 = –3 + a
⇒2+3=a Combine like terms
⇒a=5

Lastly, we need to compute for b. Referring to the table of horizontal ellipse we can
see that the b can only be solved with the covertex or minor axis. However, those properties
are not given instead we have one of the foci. So, let’s consider the focus: (Note: We defined
earlier those foci are points that lies in the major axis. The center and one of the foci have the
same value for ordinate. This implies that those two points can be contained in a horizontal
line segment, major axis. It confirms our assumption that this ellipse is a horizontal ellipse.)

f (0, 5) = f (h ± c, k) ⇒ 0 = h ± c
⇒ 0 = –3 ± c Substitute the value for h.
⇒ 0 = –3 + c Use the equation 0 = –3 + c
⇒0+3=c Combine like terms.
⇒c=3

Recall during the proof of the equation we established this equation, a 2 = b2 + c2. This
equation tells us that the square of the minor axis plus the square of the distance of center to
one of the foci will be equal to the square of the major axis. Let’s consider the equation:

c2 = a2 – b2 ⇒ b2 = a2 – c2
⇒ b2 = (5)2 – (3)2 Substitute the values of a and c.
⇒ b2 = 25 – 9 Perform necessary operation.
⇒ b2 = 16 Combine like terms.
⇒b=4 Solve for b.

We now have all the necessary values for h, k, a, and b.

h = –3 k=5 a=5 b=4

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

 Subsutitue the values to the standard equation;

Substitute the values h, k, a, and b.

Perform necessary operation.

Standard equation of the ellipse.

We can then proceed in solving for the general equation of ellipse.

Consider the standard equation.

16(x + 3)2 + 25(y – 5)2 = 400 Multiple both sides of the equation
with the LCD.
16(x2 + 6x + 9) + 25(y2 – 10y + 25) = 400 Expand the trinomial.
(16x2+96x+144) + (25y2–250y+625) = 400 Distribute the constant to
trinomial.
16x2 + 96x + 25y2 – 250y + 369 = 0 Combine like terms.
16x2 + 25y2 + 96x – 250y + 369 = 0 General equation of the ellipse.

3. Solve for the standard and general equation of the ellipse that has a vertex at (–2, 1)
and covertex at (4, –2). Supposed the ellipse has a horizontal axis.

For this problem, the axis is already given.

Thus, we may now proceed in solving for h, k, a, and
b. We now consider the properties of horizontal
ellipse.

Note that the ellipse is a horizontal ellipse.

Thus, it implies the following:

v (–2, 1) = v (h ± a, k)

Consequently, we have the following

equation:

–2 = h ± a (eq. 1) k=1

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

 Next consider the covertex,

cv (4, –2) = cv (h, k ± b)

Subsequently, we can have the following equation previous statement.

4=h –2 = k ± b (eq. 2)

Note from the vertex and covertex we were able to solve for the h, and k. To solve for
a and b, we need to use eq.1 and eq. 2.

Equation 1:

h ± a = –2
h + a = –2 Consider the equation h + a = –2
4 + a = –2 Substitute the value of h.
a = –2 – 4 Solve for a.
a = –6

Equation 2:

k ± b = –2
k + b = –2 Consider the equation k + b = –2
1 + b = –2 Substitute the value of k.
b = –2 – 1 Solve for b.
b = –3

Note that we define a and b should be ℝ+. Thus, we need to get the absolute values of
a and b.

a=6 b=3

Now we have the values that we need for the standard equation:

h=4 k=1 a=6 b=3

Substitute the values to the standard equation:

Substitute the value of h, k a, and b.

Perform necessary operation.

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

 Standard equation of the ellipse.

We can now proceed in solving for the general equation of the ellipse.

Consider the standard equation.

(x – 4)2 + 4(y – 1)2 = 36 Multiple both sides of equation with the

LCD.
(x2 – 8x + 16) + 4(y2 – 2y + 1) = 36 Expand the binomial.
x2 – 8x + 16 + 4y2 – 8y + 4 = 36 Distribute the constant to the trinomial.
x2 – 8x + 4y2 – 8y - 16 = 0 Combine like terms.
x2 + 4y2 – 8x – 8y - 16 = 0 General equation of the ellipse.

Solve for the general equation of ellipse given some of its property.
1. v1(2, 8), v2(2,0); cv1(4, 4), cv2(0, 4)
2. v1(5,0) v2(–5 ,0); cv1(0, 4), cv2(0, –4)
3. f1(4, 0), f2(–4, 0), v1(5, 0), v2(–5, 0)
4. v1(–2, –8), v2(–2, 2), f1(–2, –7) f2(–2, 1)
5. v1(5, 0) v2(–5, 0); cv1(0, 2) cv2(0, –2)
6. c(2, –3), length of minor and major axis is 6 and 12, respectively.
7. Center at the origin, length of major axis is 14 and f(0, 8)
8. c(–1, –1); f(–5, –1), v( 7, –1)
9. c(3, –4), length of major and minor axis is 6 and 4, respectively.
10. Find the equation of the ellipse that will just fit inside a box that is 12 units wide
and 6 units high. Supposed, the origin of your cartesian plane is located at the
lower left of the box.

Prepared by: Engr. Kevin Johnson Malate, LPT

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse

mathematicsonline. (2014, May 25). Equation of an Ellipse, Deriving the formula. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TQMJ09MLWM

PRE CALCULUS | Ellipse