document.write( "Question 756281: write an equation of the ellipse with a vertex at (-8,0), a co-vertex at (0,4), and center at (0,0) \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #460117 by Edwin McCravy(20056) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "We plot those points, and sketch the ellipse:\r\n" );
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document.write( "Count the number of graph units there are between the center (0,0) \r\n" );
document.write( "and a vertex (-8,0). That's known as the \"semi-major\" axis, and its \r\n" );
document.write( "length is represented by the letter \" a \".  So a = 8. [Incidentally\r\n" );
document.write( "the ENTIRE major axis is 16 units long, it goes from one vertex (-8,0)\r\n" );
document.write( "to the other vertex (8,0).]\r\n" );
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document.write( "Count the number of graph units there are between the center (0,0) \r\n" );
document.write( "and a covertex (0,4). That's known as the \"semi-minor\" axis, and its \r\n" );
document.write( "length is represented by the letter \" b \".  So b = 4. [Incidentally\r\n" );
document.write( "the ENTIRE minor axis is 8 units long, it goes from one covertex (0,4)\r\n" );
document.write( "to the other covertex (0,-4).]\r\n" );
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document.write( "The equation of an ellipse that looks like this \r\n" );
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document.write( "is    \r\n" );
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document.write( "where (h,k) is the center (0,0)  so h=0, k=0, and a=8, b=4\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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