SOLUTION: Choose the equation that best represents an ellipse for the given foci and co-vertices. foci (+or- 2, 0) co-vertices (0, +or- 4) (a) x^2/20 + y^2/16 =1 (b) x^2/16 + y^2/20

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Question 421565: Choose the equation that best represents an ellipse for the given foci and co-vertices.
foci (+or- 2, 0)
co-vertices (0, +or- 4)
(a) x^2/20 + y^2/16 =1
(b) x^2/16 + y^2/20 =1
(c) x^2/9 - y^2/36= 1
(d) y^2/6 - x^2/1 =1

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Choose the equation that best represents an ellipse for the given foci and co-vertices.

foci (+or- 2, 0)
co-vertices (0, +or- 4)

(a) x^2/20 + y^2/16 =1
(b) x^2/16 + y^2/20 =1
(c) x^2/9 - y^2/36= 1
(d) y^2/6 - x^2/1 =1

All the choices have center (0,0)

It can't be (c) or (d) for the minus sign tells us they're
hyperbolas, not ellipses.

It can't be (b) because the smaller denominator being 
under the x² term means the ellipse has vertices and foci 
on the y-axis and covertices on the x-axis, and is shaped 
like this "" . But the given foci are on the x-axis and 
the covertices are on the y-axis, making it shaped like 
this "". So by elimination, the answer is (a).
Edwin

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