Question 390942
Find the length of the minor axis for the ellipse: 
<pre><font size = 4 color = "indigo" face = "batangche"><b>
{{{(x+6)^2/1+ (y+9)^2/16=1}}}.

This is of the form

{{{(x-h)^2/b^2 + (y-k)^2/a^2=1}}}

The larger denominator is under the term that contains y so the major 
axis is vertical and the minor axis is horizontal.

The center is (h,k) = (-6,-9)
aČ = 16 so a = 4
bČ = 1  so b = 1

a is one-half of the major axis and b is one-half or the minor axis.

To draw the graph, we start at the center, (-6,-9), draw half the
major axis upward from it and half of the major axis below it.
Also, starting at the center, (-6,-9), draw half the
minor axis leftward from it and half of the minor axis right of it.

{{{drawing(400,400,-11,5,-14,2, graph(400,400,-11,5,-14,2),

green(line(-7,-9,-5,-9),line(-6,-13,-6,-5)) )}}}   
 
Sketch in the ellipse:

{{{drawing(400,400,-11,5,-14,2, graph(400,400,-11,5,-14,2),

green(line(-7,-9,-5,-9),line(-6,-13,-6,-5)), arc(-6,-9,2,-8) )}}} 

Since one-half of the minor axis is b = 1, the entire minor axis is 2.

Edwin</pre>