SOLUTION: An ellipse has foci at (-3,2) and (5,2). Find its equation in standard form. I don't know how figure this one out. The only thing I know is that (h,k)=(1,2).

Algebra ->  Quadratic-relations-and-conic-sections -> SOLUTION: An ellipse has foci at (-3,2) and (5,2). Find its equation in standard form. I don't know how figure this one out. The only thing I know is that (h,k)=(1,2).      Log On


   

Question 838915: An ellipse has foci at (-3,2) and (5,2). Find its equation in standard form.
I don't know how figure this one out. The only thing I know is that (h,k)=(1,2).
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
i could be wrong but i don't think you have enough information to solve this.

check the following references to see what i mean.

in both of these videos, you are either given both vertices and both focus points, or you are given the center of the equation and 2 focus points and another point on the ellipse.

either is enough information to generate the equation as the videos show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rr3nSOxJIc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRbSpdKjklU

the following reference from purplemath shows examples of finding the equation from information given. information given is more than what you have.

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/ellipse3.htm

with the information you have, you can draw the line between the foci but nothing else.

bottom line is i don't think you have enough information.
check the problem statement again to see that you haven't missed anything.