SOLUTION: Hi! I seem to always have trouble with conic sections so I hope you can help! my equation says 2x^2+7y^2=14 now find e I know that to find the eccentricity the equation is e

Algebra ->  Quadratic-relations-and-conic-sections -> SOLUTION: Hi! I seem to always have trouble with conic sections so I hope you can help! my equation says 2x^2+7y^2=14 now find e I know that to find the eccentricity the equation is e      Log On


   

Question 838333: Hi! I seem to always have trouble with conic sections so I hope you can help!
my equation says 2x^2+7y^2=14 now find e
I know that to find the eccentricity the equation is e=c/a
I don't understand where to find or how to get "c" and "a" in this problem.
Thank you so much for your help, it is greatly appreciated!!
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Transform your equation to
x%5E2%2Fa%5E2%2By%5E2%2Fb%5E2=1
Then
c%5E2=a%5E2-b%5E2
.
.
2x%5E2%2B7y%5E2=14
x%5E2%2F7%2By%5E2%2F2=1
a=sqrt%287%29
b=sqrt%282%29
c%5E2=7-2
c%5E2=5
c=sqrt%285%29
e=c%2Fa=sqrt%285%29%2Fsqrt%287%29=sqrt%285%2F7%29