document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=74668>Question 74668</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> we are doing these types of questions in class. i am having a problem understanding how to solve.can you help?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the foci of the ellipse x^2/a^2+y^2/b^2=1b>a are_______\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "thanks for any insight into this.. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #53641 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><B>josmiceli(19441)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=josmiceli><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=53641\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2+%2F+a%5E2%29+%2B+%28y%5E2+%2F+b%5E2%29+=+1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2+%2F+a%5E2%29+%2B+%28y%5E2+%2F+b%5E2%29+=+1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (b > a)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "My math book shows this general equation in a slightly different<BR>\n" );
document.write( "form, but I'm not confused by it. My book says<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28y%5E2%2Fa%5E2%29+%2B+%28x%5E2%2Fb%5E2%29=+1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28y%5E2%2Fa%5E2%29+%2B+%28x%5E2%2Fb%5E2%29=+1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (a > b)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "It says that this equation is centered at the origin and the major axis<BR>\n" );
document.write( "is the y-axis. It really says exactly the same thing as your<BR>\n" );
document.write( "equation, with a and b reversed. Just say \"The denominator associated<BR>\n" );
document.write( "with the y^2 term is greater than the denominator associated with the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2 term.\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I'm told <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c%5E2+=+a%5E2+-+b%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c%5E2+=+a%5E2+-+b%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and the foci are at <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y+=+%2Bc ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y+=+%2Bc\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y+=+-c ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y+=+-c\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y+=+%2Bsqrt%28a%5E2+-+b%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y+=+%2Bsqrt%28a%5E2+-+b%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > the 1st foci<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y+=+-sqrt%28a%5E2+-+b%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y+=+-sqrt%28a%5E2+-+b%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > the 2nd foci<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If b > a in your equation, the foci would be on the x-axis  </SPAN>\n" );
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