Question

What is the length of the major axis of the conic section shown below?

Answer 1

`((x-2)^2)/(49)+((y+5)^2)/(36)=1`

The equation of a elipse:

`(x^2)/(a^2)+(y^2)/(b^2)=1`

The length of the major axis is equal 2a if a > b or 2b if b > a.

We have

`a^2=49\to a=√(49)=7\\\\b^2=36\to b=√(36)=6\\\\a > b`

therefore the length of the major axis is equal 2 · 7 = 14.