11.2k views
3 votes
Write the equation of an ellipse with a major axis of length 8 and co-vertices (0,3) and (0,-3)

1 Answer

2 votes
If the co-vertices are (0, 3) and (0, -3) where x is 0 and y has a value, then y is the minor axis. That means that the x axis is the major axis. Because of what the co-vertices are, the center of the ellipse is at the origin. The formula for an ellipse that has a horizontal major axis is
((x-h)^2)/(a^2)+ ((y-k)^2)/(b^2)=1. The a value will always be larger than the b value, therefore, the a value goes under the coordinate that is the major axis. Here, its the x-axis. a is the distance that the outer edge of the ellipse is from the center. It's 8 units away from the center along the x axis and 3 units along the y axis from the center. So a = 8 and a^2 = 64; b = 3 and b^2 = 9. Our formula then is
(x^2)/(64)+ (y^2)/(9)=1
User Leonida
by
8.1k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories