Solution - Properties of ellipses

$$a$$ represents the longer radius of the ellipse, which is equal to half of the major axis. This is called the semi-major axis.
To find the value of $$a$$, use the horizontal ellipse standard form:
$$\frac{{\left(x-h\right)}^2}{a^2}+\frac{{\left(y-k\right)}^2}{b^2}=1$$

$$\frac{{\left(x+3\right)}^2}{25}+\frac{{\left(y-1\right)}^2}{4}=1$$
$$a^2=25$$
Take the square root of both sides of the equation:
$$a=5$$

Because $$a$$ represents a distance, it only has a positive value.

In a horizontal ellipse, the major axis runs parallel to the x-axis and passes through the ellipse's vertices. Find the vertices by adding and subtracting $$a$$ from the x-coordinate $$\left(h\right)$$ of the center.

To find vertex_1, add $$a$$ to the x-coordinate $$\left(h\right)$$ of the center:
Vertex_1: $$\left(h+a,k\right)$$
Center: $$\left(h,k\right)=\left(-3,1\right)$$
$$h=-3$$
$$k=1$$
$$a=5$$
Vertex_1: $$\left(-3+5,1\right)$$
Vertex_1: $$\left(2,1\right)$$

To find vertex_2, subtract $$a$$ from the x-coordinate ($$h$$) of the center:
Vertex_2: $$\left(h-a,k\right)$$
Center: $$\left(h,k\right)=\left(-3,1\right)$$
$$h=-3$$
$$k=1$$
$$a=5$$
Vertex_2: $$\left(-3-5,1\right)$$
Vertex_2: $$\left(-8,1\right)$$

$$b$$ represents the shorter radius of the ellipse, which is equal to half of the minor axis. This is called the semi-minor axis.
To find the value of $$b$$, use the horizontal ellipse standard form:
$$\frac{{\left(x-h\right)}^2}{a^2}+\frac{{\left(y-k\right)}^2}{b^2}=1$$

$$\frac{{\left(x+3\right)}^2}{25}+\frac{{\left(y-1\right)}^2}{4}=1$$
$$b^2=4$$
Take the square root of both sides of the equation:
$$b=2$$
Because b represents a distance, it only has a positive value.

In a horizontal ellipse, the minor axis runs parallel to the y-axis and passes through the ellipse's co-vertices.
Find the co-vertices by adding and subtracting $$b$$ from the y-coordinate $$\left(k\right)$$ of the center.

To find co-vertex_1, add $$b$$ to the y coordinate $$\left(k\right)$$ of the center:
Co-vertex_1: $$\left(h,k+b\right)$$
Center: $$\left(h,k\right)=\left(-3,1\right)$$
$$h=-3$$
$$k=1$$
$$b=2$$
Co-vertex_1: $$\left(-3,1+2\right)$$
Co-vertex_1: $$\left(-3,3\right)$$

To find co-vertex_2, subtract $$b$$ from the y-coordinate $$\left(k\right)$$ of the center:
Co-vertex_2: $$\left(h,k-b\right)$$
Center: $$\left(h,k\right)=\left(-3,1\right)$$
$$h=-3$$
$$k=1$$
$$b=2$$
Co-vertex_2: $$\left(-3,1-2\right)$$
Co-vertex_2: $$\left(-3,-1\right)$$

Focal length is the distance from the ellipse's center to each focal point and is usually represented by $$f$$.

To find $$f$$, use the formula:
$$f=\sqrt{a^2-b^2}$$
$$a^2=25$$
$$b^2=4$$
Plug $$a^2$$ and $$b^2$$ into the formula and simplify:

$$f=\sqrt{25-4}$$

$$f=\sqrt{21}$$

$$f=4.583$$

Because $$f$$ represents a distance, it only has a positive value.

In a horizontal ellipse, the major axis runs parallel to the x-axis and through the foci.
Find the foci by adding and subtracting $$f$$ from the x-coordinate $$\left(h\right)$$ of the center.

To find focus_1, add $$f$$ to the x-coordinate $$\left(h\right)$$ of the center:
Focus_1: $$\left(h+f,k\right)$$
Center: $$\left(h,k\right)=\left(-3,1\right)$$
$$h=-3$$
$$k=1$$
$$f=4.583$$
Focus_1: $$\left(-3+4.583,1\right)$$
Focus_1: $$\left(1.583,1\right)$$

To find focus_2, subtract $$f$$ from the x-coordinate $$\left(h\right)$$ of the center:
Focus_2: $$\left(h-f,k\right)$$
Center: $$\left(h,k\right)=\left(-3,1\right)$$
$$h=-3$$
$$k=1$$
$$f=4.583$$
Focus_2: $$\left(-3-4.583,1\right)$$
Focus_2: $$\left(-7.583,1\right)$$

Use the formula for the area of an ellipse to find the ellipse's area:
$$\pi ·a·b$$
$$a=5$$
$$b=2$$
Plug $$a$$ and $$b$$ into the formula and simplify:

$$\pi ·5·2$$

$$\pi ·10$$

The area equals $$10\pi$$

To find the x-intercept(s), plug $$0$$ in for $$y$$ in the ellipse's standard equation and solve the resulting quadratic equation for $$x$$.
Click here for a step-by-step explanation of the quadratic equation.

$$\frac{{\left(x+3\right)}^2}{25}+\frac{{\left(y-1\right)}^2}{4}=1$$

$$\frac{{\left(x+3\right)}^2}{25}+\frac{{\left(0-1\right)}^2}{4}=1$$

$$x_1=1.33$$

$$x_2=-7.33$$

To find the y-intercept(s), plug $$0$$ in for $$x$$ in the ellipse's standard equation and solve the resulting quadratic equation for $$y$$.
Click here for a step-by-step explanation of the quadratic equation.

$$\frac{{\left(x+3\right)}^2}{25}+\frac{{\left(y-1\right)}^2}{4}=1$$

$$\frac{{\left(0+3\right)}^2}{25}+\frac{{\left(y-1\right)}^2}{4}=1$$

$$y_1=\frac{13}{5}$$

$$y_2=-\frac{3}{5}$$

To find the eccentricity use the formula:
$$\frac{\sqrt{a^2-b^2}}{a}$$
$$a^2=25$$
$$b^2=4$$
$$a=5$$
Plug $$a^2$$ , $$b^2$$ and $$a$$into the formula:

$$\frac{\sqrt{25-4}}{5}$$

$$\frac{\sqrt{21}}{5}$$

$$\frac{4.583}{5}$$

$$0.917$$

The eccentricity equals $$0.917$$