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Solution - Properties of ellipses

Equation in standard form x23+y22=1
\frac{x^2}{3}+\frac{y^2}{2}=1
Center (0,0)
(0, 0)
Radius of the major axis 1.732
1.732
Vertex_1 (1.732,0)
(1.732, 0)
Vertex_2 (1.732,0)
(-1.732, 0)
Radius of the minor axis 1.414
1.414
Co-vertex_1 (0,1.414)
(0, 1.414)
Co-vertex_2 (0,1.414)
(0, -1.414)
Focal length 1
1
Focus_1 (1,0)
(1, 0)
Focus_2 (1,0)
(-1, 0)
Area 2.449π
2.449π
x-intercepts (1.732,0),(1.732,0)
(1.732, 0), (-1.732, 0)
y-intercepts (0,1.414),(0,1.414)
(0, 1.414), (0, -1.414)
Eccentricity 0.577
0.577

Other Ways to Solve

Properties of ellipses

Step-by-step explanation

1. Find the standard form

To find the standard form of an ellipse, make the right side of the equation equal to 1:

2x2+3y2=6

Divide both sides by 6

2x26+3y26=66

Simplify the expression

13x2+12y2=1

x23+y22=1

Because the denominator of x (3) is bigger than the denominator of y (2), it represents the major axis (3=a2), making this a horizontal ellipse equation:
(x-h)2a2+(y-k)2b2=1

2. Find the center

h represents the x-offset from the origin.
k represents the y-offset from the origin.
To find the values of h and k, use the horizontal ellipse standard form:
(x-h)2a2+(y-k)2b2=1

x23+y22=1
h=0
k=0
Center: (0,0)

3. Find the radius of the major axis

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:
(x-h)2a2+(y-k)2b2=1

x23+y22=1
a2=3
Take the square root of both sides of the equation:
a=1.732

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

4. Find the vertices

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 (h) of the center.

To find vertex_1, add a to the x-coordinate (h) of the center:
Vertex_1: (h+a,k)
Center: (h,k)=(0,0)
h=0
k=0
a=1.732
Vertex_1: (0+1.732,0)
Vertex_1: (1.732,0)

To find vertex_2, subtract a from the x-coordinate (h) of the center:
Vertex_2: (ha,k)
Center: (h,k)=(0,0)
h=0
k=0
a=1.732
Vertex_2: (01.732,0)
Vertex_2: (1.732,0)

5. Find the radius of the minor axis

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:
(x-h)2a2+(y-k)2b2=1

x23+y22=1
b2=2
Take the square root of both sides of the equation:
b=1.414
Because b represents a distance, it only has a positive value.

6. Find the co-vertices

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 (k) of the center.

To find co-vertex_1, add b to the y coordinate (k) of the center:
Co-vertex_1: (h,k+b)
Center: (h,k)=(0,0)
h=0
k=0
b=1.414
Co-vertex_1: (0,0+1.414)
Co-vertex_1: (0,1.414)

To find co-vertex_2, subtract b from the y-coordinate (k) of the center:
Co-vertex_2: (h,kb)
Center: (h,k)=(0,0)
h=0
k=0
b=1.414
Co-vertex_2: (0,01.414)
Co-vertex_2: (0,1.414)

7. Find the focal length

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=a2-b2
a2=3
b2=2
Plug a2 and b2 into the formula and simplify:

f=3-2

f=1

f=1

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

8. Find the foci

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 (h) of the center.

To find focus_1, add f to the x-coordinate (h) of the center:
Focus_1: (h+f,k)
Center: (h,k)=(0,0)
h=0
k=0
f=1
Focus_1: (0+1,0)
Focus_1: (1,0)

To find focus_2, subtract f from the x-coordinate (h) of the center:
Focus_2: (hf,k)
Center: (h,k)=(0,0)
h=0
k=0
f=1
Focus_2: (01,0)
Focus_2: (1,0)

9. Find the area

Use the formula for the area of an ellipse to find the ellipse's area:
π·a·b
a=1.732
b=1.414
Plug a and b into the formula and simplify:

π·1.732·1.414

π·2.449

The area equals 2.449π

10. Find the x and y-intercepts

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.

x23+y22=1

x23+022=1

x1=1.732

x2=1.732

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.

x23+y22=1

023+y22=1

y1=1.414

y2=1.414

11. Find the eccentricity

To find the eccentricity use the formula:
a2-b2a
a2=3
b2=2
a=1.732
Plug a2 , b2 and ainto the formula:

3-21.732

11.732

11.732

250433

The eccentricity equals 0.577

12. Graph

Why learn this

If you cut a carrot in half across its grain (like this: =|> ) the resulting cross-section would be circular and, therefore, somewhat easy to measure. But what if you cut the same carrot across the grain at an angle (like this: =/> )? The resulting shape would be more of an ellipse and measuring it would prove to be a bit more difficult than measuring a plain old circle. But why would you need to measure the cross section of a carrot to begin with?
Well... you probably would not, but such occurrences of ellipses in nature are actually quite common, and understanding them from a mathematical perspective can be useful in many different contexts. Fields such as art, design, architecture, engineering, and astronomy all rely at times on ellipses - from painting portraits, to building homes, to measuring the orbit of moons, planets, and comets.

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