Question 325483: Find the center, foci, vertices, length of major axis, and length of minor axis of the ellipse 25(x-2)^2 + 4(y+5)^2 = 100. Sketch the graph of the ellipse. Thanks in advance... (^2 means squared)
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20055) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The standard forms for ellipses are
  for ellipses like this where a > b
  for ellipses like this where a < b
 
To get 1 on the right, divide through by
 
Simplify:
 
Since the larger number is under the expression in y the ellipse is
of the form  
and is like this
, , or , , or
center = (h,k) = (2,-5)
So let's begin by plotting the center (2,-5)
Next we draw a vertical line beginning at the center
(2,-5) and going upward units, which is one-half the
major axis. This ends in the point (2,0) which is the upper
vertex.
Next we draw a vertical line beginning at the center
(2,-5) and going downward units, which is one-half the
major axis. This ends in the point (2,-10) which is the lower
vertex. That green line is the major axis, and it is 10 units long.
Next we draw a horizontal line beginning at the center
(2,-5) and going to the right units, which is one-half the
minor axis. This ends in the point (4,-5) which is the right co-vertex.
Next we draw a horizontal line beginning at the center
(2,-5) and going to the leftt units, which is one-half the
minor axis. This ends in the point (0,-5) which is the left co-vertex.
The horizontal green line is is the minor axis, and it is 4 units long.
Now we can sketch in the ellipse:
Finally we find the foci. They are the two points on the major axis
w2hich are c units from the center, where c is calculated by
So we add to the y-coordinate of the center
to find the upper focus, which is the point
(2, ), which is about (2,9.6),
marked in red below.
And we subtract from the y-coordinate of the center
to find the lower focus, which is the point
(2, ), which is about (2,0.4),
also marked in red below.
Edwin
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