Sketching Ellipses: Comparing 0 and 8

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Hi guys,

What is the best way to sketch

0 = x2 - 2x + 4y2 And
8 = x2 - 2x + 4y2

?

How do I sketch these two and how do I know they're both ellipses?
Thank you.
 
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JC3187 said:
Hi guys,

What is the best way to sketch

0 = x2 - 2x + 4y2 And
8 = x2 - 2x + 4y2

?

How do I sketch these two and how do I know they're both ellipses?
Thank you.

Complete the square in x: x^2 - 2ax = (x - a)^2 - a^2.
 
Then what do i do?
 
JC3187 said:
Then what do i do?
What is the general equation for an ellipse in Cartesian coordinates? Can you see why completing the square helps?
 
(x- 1)^2+ y^2= x^2- 2x+ 1+ y^2
Do you see how that is connected to x^2+ 2x+ y^2?
 
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