SOLUTION: What happens to an ellipse if the values of a and b are equal?

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Question 1152915: What happens to an ellipse if the values of a and b are equal?
Answer by math_helper(2461) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The equation for an ellipse is

+x%5E2%2Fa%5E2+%2B+y%5E2%2Fb%5E2+=+1+



If a=b then this reduces to:

+x%5E2%2Fa%5E2+%2B+y%5E2%2Fa%5E2+=+1+



and by multiplying both sides by a^2

+x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+=+a%5E2+



You should recognize this as the equation of a circle with radius a.