document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=135156>Question 135156</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> how do you solve an ellipse equation like this? when there a numbers in place of the a^2 and b^2?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x-h)^2     (y-k)^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "_______  +   _____<BR>\n" );
document.write( "   a^2        b^2 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #98991 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=98991\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> (x-h)^2     (y-k)^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "_______  +   _____  = 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "   a^2        b^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If a^2 = 4 and b^2=9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the a = 2 and b =3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then the vertical axis of the ellipse has length 2*3=6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and the horizontal axis of the ellipse has length 2*2=4<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In this case the vertical axis is the major axis<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the horizontal axis is the minor axis.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If the numbers are switched the horizontal axis =6 is major<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and the vertical axis =4 is minor.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The center in both cases is (h,k)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
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