SOLUTION: 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

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: 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      Log On


   



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) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The standard forms for ellipses are

%28x-h%29%5E2%2Fa%5E2%2B%28y-k%29%5E2%2Fb%5E2%22%22=%22%221 for ellipses like this drawing%2850%2C25%2C-10%2C10%2C-5%2C5%2C+arc%280%2C0%2C18%2C-8%29+++%29 where a > b

%28x-h%29%5E2%2Fb%5E2%2B%28y-k%29%5E2%2Fa%5E2%22%22=%22%221 for ellipses like this drawing%2825%2C50%2C-5%2C5%2C-10%2C10%2C+arc%280%2C0%2C8%2C-18%29+++%29 where a < b

25%28x-2%29%5E2+%2B+4%28y%2B5%29%5E2%22%22=%22%22100

To get 1 on the right, divide through by 100

25%28x-2%29%5E2%2F100+%2B+4%28y%2B5%29%5E2%2F100%22%22=%22%22100%2F100

Simplify:

%28x-2%29%5E2%2F4+%2B+%28y%2B5%29%5E2%2F25%22%22=%22%221

Since the larger number is under the expression in y the ellipse is 
of the form %28x-h%29%5E2%2Fb%5E2%2B%28y-k%29%5E2%2Fa%5E2%22%22=%22%221 
and is like this drawing%2825%2C50%2C-5%2C5%2C-10%2C10%2C+arc%280%2C0%2C8%2C-18%29+++%29 

h=2, k=-5, a%5E2=25 or a=5, b%5E2=4, or b=2

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 a=5 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 a=5 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 b=2 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 b=2 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

c%5E2=a%5E2-b%5E2
c%5E2=5%5E2-2%5E2
c%5E2=25-4
c%5E2=21
c=sqrt%2821%29

So we add sqrt%2821%29 to the y-coordinate of the center
to find the upper focus, which is the point
(2,5%2Bsqrt%2821%29), which is about (2,9.6),
marked in red below.


 
And we subtract sqrt%2821%29 from the y-coordinate of the center
to find the lower focus, which is the point
(2,5-sqrt%2821%29), which is about (2,0.4),
also marked in red below.



Edwin