SOLUTION: A medical procedure called lithotripsy is a noninvasive medical procedure that is used to break up kidney and bladder stones in the body. A machine called a lithotripter uses its t

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Question 1126873: A medical procedure called lithotripsy is a noninvasive medical procedure that is used to break up kidney and bladder stones in the body. A machine called a lithotripter uses its three-dimensional semi-elliptical shape and foci properties of an ellipse to concentrate shock waves generated at one focus on a kidney stone located at the other focus. If the lithotripter has a length (semi-major axis) of 16cm and a radius (semi-minor axis) of 10cm, how far from the vertex should a kidney stone be located for the best result?
Answer by ikleyn(52781) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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The shortest distance from the kidney to one of the two vertices is  16 - sqrt%2816%5E2-10%5E2%29 = 3.51 cm.


The longest distance from the kidney to one of the two vertices is  16 + sqrt%2816%5E2-10%5E2%29 = 28.49 cm.

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    - Ellipse definition, canonical equation, characteristic points and elements
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