SOLUTION: What equation for the ellipse satisfies the given conditions eccentricity: 0.5, foci=(-1.2,0),(1.2,0)

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Question 981342: What equation for the ellipse satisfies the given conditions eccentricity: 0.5, foci=(-1.2,0),(1.2,0)
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If eccentricity is the number e, then e is ratio of focal distance to main axis length.


Your eccentricity indicates 0.5=%281.2-%28-1.2%29%29%2F%282a%29
0.5=2.4%2F%282a%29
0.5=1.2%2Fa
a=1.2%2F0.5
a=2.4

focal distance from center, a and b in an ellipse are related through c%5E2=a%5E2-b%5E2, using c for distance from center to either focus.
-b%5E2=c%5E2-a%5E2
b%5E2=a%5E2-c%5E2
-
b%5E2=2.4%5E2-1.2%5E2
b%5E2=4.32

Fill the information into standard form ellipse equation.
highlight%28x%5E2%2F5.76%2By%5E2%2F4.32=1%29