The document discusses ellipses including their definition, standard equation, graphing and solving problems involving ellipses. It provides examples of finding the standard equation given properties of ellipses and solving word problems involving ellipses modeling real world situations such as orbits and tunnels.
The document discusses ellipses including their definition, standard equation, graphing and solving problems involving ellipses. It provides examples of finding the standard equation given properties of ellipses and solving word problems involving ellipses modeling real world situations such as orbits and tunnels.
The document discusses ellipses including their definition, standard equation, graphing and solving problems involving ellipses. It provides examples of finding the standard equation given properties of ellipses and solving word problems involving ellipses modeling real world situations such as orbits and tunnels.
The document discusses ellipses including their definition, standard equation, graphing and solving problems involving ellipses. It provides examples of finding the standard equation given properties of ellipses and solving word problems involving ellipses modeling real world situations such as orbits and tunnels.
At the end of the lesson, the student is able to: (1) define an ellipse; (2) determine the standard form of equation of an ellipse; (3) graph an ellipse in a rectangular coordinate system; and (4) solve situational problems involving conic sections (ellipses).
Lesson Outline (1) Definition of an ellipse (2) Derivation of the standard equation of an ellipse (3) Graphing ellipses (4) Solving situational problems involving ellipses
Introduction An ellipse is one of the conic sections that most students have not encountered formally before, unlike circles and parabolas. Its shape is a bounded curve which looks like a flattened circle. The orbits of the planets in our solar system around the sun happen to be elliptical in shape. Also, just like parabolas, ellipses have reflective properties that have been used in the construction of certain structures (shown in some of the practice problems). We will see some properties and applications of ellipses in this section.
1.3.1. Definition and Equation of an Ellipse
Consider the points F1(-3, 0) and F2(3, 0), as shown in Figure 1.21. What is the sum of the distances of A(4, 2.4) from F1 and from F2? How about the sum of Teaching Notes the distances of B (and C(0,- 4)) from F1 and from F2? AF1 + AF2 = 7.4+2.6 = 10 BF1 + BF2 = 3.8+6.2 = 10 CF1 + CF2 = 5 + 5 = 10 There are other points P such that P F1 + P F2 = 10. The collection of all such points forms a shape called an ellipse.
12 | P a g e (1) center : origin (0, 0) (2) foci: F1(-c, 0) and F2(c, 0) • Each focus is c units away from the center. • For any point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances from the foci is 2a. (3) vertices: V1(-a, 0) and V2(a, 0) • The vertices are points on the ellipse, collinear with the center and foci • If y = 0, then x = ±a. Each vertex is a units away from the center. • The segment V1V2 is called the major axis. Its length is 2a. It divides the ellipse into two congruent parts. (4) covertices: W1(0, -b) and W2(0, b) • The segment through the center, perpendicular to the major axis, is the minor axis. It meets the ellipse at the covertices. It divides the ellipse into two congruent parts. • If x = 0, then y = ±b. Each covertex is b units away from the center. • The minor axis W1W2 is 2b units long. Since a>b, the major axis is longer than the minor axis.
13 | P a g e Example 1.3.2. Find the (standard) equation of the ellipse whose foci are F1(3, 0) and F2(3, 0), such that for any point on it, the sum of its distances from the foci is 10. See Figure 1.21
1.3.2. More Properties of Ellipses
The ellipses we have considered so far are “horizontal” and have the origin as their centers. Some ellipses have their foci aligned vertically, and some have centers not at the origin. Their standard equations and properties are given in the box. The derivations are more involved, but are similar to the one above, and so are not shown anymore.
In all four cases below, a>b and c =√(𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 ). The foci F1 and F2 are c units away from the center. The vertices V1 and V2 are a units away from the center, the major axis has length 2a, the covertices W 1 and W2 are b units away from the center, and the minor axis has length 2b. Recall that, for any point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances from the foci is 2a.
In the standard equation, if the x-part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse is horizontal. If the y-part has the bigger denominator, the ellipse is vertical.
14 | P a g e Example 1.3.3. Give the coordinates of the center, foci, vertices, and covertices of the ellipse with the given equation. Sketch the graph, and include these points.
(2) We first change the given equation to standard form.
15 | P a g e Example 1.3.4. The foci of an ellipse are (3, 6) and (3, 2). For any point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances from the foci is 14. Find the standard equation of the ellipse.
Example 1.3.5. An ellipse has vertices (2 -√61, −5) and (2 + √61, −5), and its minor axis is 12 units long. Find its standard equation and its foci.
1.3.3. Situational Problems Involving Ellipses
Example 1.3.6. A tunnel has the shape of a semi ellipse that is 15 ft high at the center, and 36 ft across at the base. At most how high should a passing truck be, if it is 12 ft wide, for it to be able to fit through the tunnel? Round o↵ your answer to two decimal places.
Solution. Refer to the figure above. If we draw the semiellipse on a rectangular coordinate system, with its center at the origin, an equation of the ellipse which contains it, is
To maximize its height, the corners of the truck, as shown in the figure, would have to just touch the ellipse. Since the truck is 12 ft. wide, let the point (6, n) be the corner of the truck in the first quadrant, where n > 0, is the (maximum) height of the truck. Since this point is on the ellipse, it should fit the equation. Thus, we have
16 | P a g e Example 1.3.7. The orbit of a planet has the shape of an ellipse, and on one of the foci is the star around which it revolves. The planet is closest to the star when it is at one vertex. It is farthest from the star when it is at the other vertex. Suppose the closest and farthest distances of the planet from this star, are 420 million kilometers and 580 million kilometers, respectively. Find the equation of the ellipse, in standard form, with center at the origin and the star at the x-axis. Assume all units are in millions of kilometers.
Solution. In the figure above, the orbit is drawn as a horizontal ellipse with center at the origin. From the planet’s distances from the star, at its closest and farthest points, it follows that the major axis is 2a = 420 + 580 = 1000 (million kilometers), so a = 500. If we place the star at the positive x-axis, then it is c = 500 - 420 = 80 units away from the center. Therefore, we get b2 = a2 - c2 = 5002 - 802 = 243600. The equation then is
The star could have been placed on the negative x-axis, and the answer would still be the same.
17 | P a g e Lesson 1.3 Supplementary Exercises
General Instructions: Read and analyze the following questions that is to be answered in a long bond paper/ yellow paper and follow the format: Name: ___________________Grade @ Section:__________ Date Answered: _______ Subject:________________ Lesson activity: _______ This activity will be recorded as a graded output. Show your solution and box your final answer.
1. Give the coordinates of the center, vertices, covertices, and foci of the ellipse with the given equation. Sketch the graph, and include these points. (5pts.each)
2. Find the standard equation of the ellipse which satisfies the given conditions.(5pts.each) (a) foci (-7, 6) and (-1, 6), the sum of the distances of any point from the foci is 14. (b) center (5, 3), horizontal major axis of length 20, minor axis of length 16. (c) major axis of length 22, foci 9 units above and below the center (2, 4). (d) covertices (-4, 8) and (10, 8), a focus at (3, 12). (e) focus (- 6, 2), covertex (- 1, 5), horizontal major axis.
3. An orbit of a satellite around a planet is an ellipse, with the planet at one focus of this ellipse. The distance of the satellite from this star varies from 300, 000 km to 500, 000 km, attained when the satellite is at each of the two vertices. Find the equation of this ellipse, if its center is at the origin, and the vertices are on the x- axis. Assume all units are in 100, 000 km.(10 pts).
