Finding the equation of an ellipse

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In summary, the conversation discusses finding the equation of an ellipse with a given focus at (0,4). However, in order to find the equation, additional information such as the length of the major axis, value of a or b, coordinates of the vertices, etc. is needed. Without this information, the equation cannot be determined. The conversation also mentions using a graph to find the values of a and b, and ultimately, the equation.
  • #1
js14
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find the equation of an ellipse whose foci is (0,4)?

Im not really sure of how to begin with this. Its actually a graph problem and it only gives the foci. can someone help me with this?
 
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  • #2
js14 said:
find the equation of an ellipse whose foci is (0,4)?

Im not really sure of how to begin with this. Its actually a graph problem and it only gives the foci. can someone help me with this?

Foci are two points, and you only gave one. We also need one of the following to be able to find the equation:
- length of the major axis
- value of a
- coordinates of the vertices
- length of the minor axis
- value of b
- endpoints of the minor axis
- eccentricity of the ellipse
(I think that covers it)

Without any of the above, we can't find the equation. You mention that this is a graph problem, so if you have the graph with the coordinate axes labeled, you should be able to get the values of a and b. Can you upload the picture of the graph?
 
  • #3
Its alright I figured it out. Thanks for replying though!
 
  • #4
What, exactly, did you figure out? There exist an infinite number of ellipses having one focus at (0, 4).
 

1. What is the general equation for an ellipse?

The general equation for an ellipse is (x-h)^2/a^2 + (y-k)^2/b^2 = 1, where (h,k) represents the center of the ellipse and a and b represent the length of the semi-major and semi-minor axes, respectively.

2. How do you find the center of an ellipse?

The center of an ellipse can be found by using the formula (h,k), where h is the x-coordinate of the center and k is the y-coordinate of the center. These values can be determined by finding the midpoints of the major and minor axes of the ellipse.

3. What is the difference between a semi-major and semi-minor axis?

The semi-major axis is the longer half of an ellipse, while the semi-minor axis is the shorter half. These values determine the shape and size of the ellipse.

4. How do you calculate the length of the semi-major and semi-minor axes?

The length of the semi-major axis a can be found by measuring the distance from the center of the ellipse to the farthest point on the ellipse. The length of the semi-minor axis b can be found by measuring the distance from the center to the closest point on the ellipse.

5. Can an ellipse have a negative value for a or b?

Yes, an ellipse can have negative values for a and b. This indicates that the ellipse is elongated in a specific direction, either horizontally or vertically, and the center of the ellipse is shifted from the origin.

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