Department of Education

SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MEYCAUAYAN

Pag-asa St., Malhacan, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

Senior High School

Activity Sheet 11
in
PRE - CALCULUS
Quarter 1 – Week 3:
Ellipse: Define and Determine its
Standard Form
(STEM_PC11AG-Ia-b-1)
 ELLIPSES

Let Us Know

Elliptic concepts are found in astronomy.

Planets move in elliptical orbits. The concept of
ellipse is also used in engineering designs,
architectural designs and in medicine.

An ellipse is one of the conic section that

most students have not encountered formally
before, unlike circles and parabolas. Its shape is
a bounded curve which looks like a flattened
circle.
http://www.copyrightfreephotos.com/

In this activity, you will know some properties of ellipses and its equation as you go
through.

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to: define an ellipse and determine the
standard form of equation of an ellipse.

Let Us Review

Write C if the equation is a circle and P if it is Parabola.

𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 3 = 0 𝑥2 − 𝑥 = y

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 16 2𝑥 2 +2𝑦 2 + 4𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 5

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 + 3 = 0 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 1 = 0

𝑦 = 𝑥2 (𝑥 + 2)2 − 2𝑥 = 1

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 − 1 = 0 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1

2
 Let Us Study

An ellipse is a set of all coplanar points such that the sum of its distances from
two fixed points is constant. The fixed points are call the foci of the ellipse. An ellipse has
two axes of symmetry. Each of these axes contains an axis that is important when dealing
with ellipse. The longer axis is called the major axis, and the shorter axis is called the
minor axis.

(http://www.copyrightfreephotos.com/)

The intersection of the two axes is called the center of the ellipse which is the midpoint
between the two foci.

The standard form of equation of an ellipse with center at the origin and foci at the x-
𝑥2 𝑦2
axis: + 𝑏2 = 1 .
𝑎2

The standard form of equation of an ellipse with center at the origin and foci at the y-
𝑥2 𝑦2
axis: + 𝑎2 = 1.
𝑏2

Here are some characteristics of the graph of ellipses with center (0,0):

Center: (0, 0) Ellipse w/ foci on the x-axis Ellipse w/ foci on the y-axis
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1 + =1
Equation 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑎2
Where 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 and a>b Where 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 and a>b
Vertices (±𝑎, 0) (0, ±𝑎)
Foci (±𝑐, 0) (0, ±𝑐)

Here are some characteristics of the graph of ellipses with center (h, k):

Center: (0, 0) Ellipse w/ foci on the x-axis Ellipse w/ foci on the y-axis
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 (𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2
+ =1 + =1
Equation 𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑏2 𝑎2
Where 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 and a>b Where 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 and a>b
Vertices (ℎ ± 𝑎, 𝑘) (h, 𝑘 ± 𝑎)
Foci (ℎ ± 𝑐, 𝑘) (h, k±𝑐)

3
Example #1

𝑦2 𝑥2
Find the coordinates of the foci and vertices of the ellipse + 16 = 1 whose center is at
36
(0, 0).
Solution:
𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑦2
The eq. + 16 = 1 is in the form + 𝑎2 = 1.
36 𝑏2

𝑎2 = 36 a = √36 a=6 𝑐 = √36 − 16 𝑐 = √20 c = 2√5

𝑏2 = 16 b = √16 b=4

Therefore:
Vertices : (0,±𝑎 ) (0,±𝟔 ) Foci:(0,±𝑐 ) (0,±2√5 )

Example #2

𝑦2 𝑥2
Find the coordinates of the foci and vertices of the ellipse + 16 = 1 whose center is at
36
(0, 0).
Solution:
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
The eq. + =1 is in the form + 𝑏2 = 1.
16 7 𝑎2

𝑎2 = 16 a = √16 a=4 𝑐 = √16 − 7 𝑐 = √9 c=3

𝑏2 = 7 b = √7

Therefore:
Vertices: (±𝑎, 0 ) (±𝟒, 𝟎 ) Foci: (±𝑐, 0) (±𝟑, 𝟎 )

Example #3

Given : x2 + 2y2 - 2x + 8y - 11 = 0. Express the equation of an ellipse in standard

form.
Solution: We will use completing the square method.
(x2 - 2x ) +(2y2 +8y ) = 11 ; Combine terms with same variable x and y.
𝑏
(x - 2x + ______) +(2y +8y+____ ) = 11 +____+_______ ;(2)2 to get the last term.
2 2

(x2 - 2x + 1) + 2(y2 + 4y + 4) = 11 + 1 + 2(4)

( x – 1 )2 + 2(y + 2)2 = 20 ; Then equate the equation to 1, by dividing
both sides by 20.
(𝑥−1)2 2(𝑦+2)2 20
+ = 20 ; then get the lowest term
20 20

(𝒙−𝟏)𝟐 (𝒚+𝟐)𝟐
+ = 𝟏 is the equation in standard form of an ellipse.
𝟐𝟎 𝟏𝟎

4
Example #4

Given : 4x2 + y2 +24x - 10y + 45 = 0. Express the equation of an ellipse in standard

form.

Solution: We will use completing the square method.

(4x2+24x ) +(y2 - 10y ) = -45 ; Combine terms with same variable x and y.
𝑏
4(x + 6x + _____) +(y - 10y+____ ) = -45 +____+_______ ;( )2 to get the last term.
2 2
2
4(x2 + 6x + 9) + (y2 - 10y + 25) = -45 + 4(9) + 25
4( x +3 )2 + (y – 5 )2 = 16 ; Then equate the equation to 1, by dividing
both sides by 20.
4(𝑥+3)2 (𝑦−5)2 16
+ = 16 ; then get the lowest term
16 16

(𝒙+𝟑)𝟐 (𝒚−𝟓)𝟐
+ =𝟏 is the standard form of an ellipse.
𝟒 𝟏𝟔

Let Us Practice

Find the value of a and b in the following equation of an ellipse.

𝑦2 𝑥2
1. + 16 = 1
40

𝑥2 𝑦2
2. 24
+ 64 = 1

𝑥2 𝑦2
3. 27
+ 9
=1

5
 Let Us Remember

If 𝑎2 is the denominator of (𝑥 − ℎ)2 , the major axis is horizontal. If 𝑎2 is the

denominator of (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 , the major axis is vertical.

The general form of the equation of an ellipse is 𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0, where A

> 0, C > 0 and A≠C.

Let Us Appreciate

Solve:

Write the equation of the ellipse in standard form with center at the origin and the foci have coordinates
(±4, 0) and vertex at (5, 0)

Let Us Practice More

Find the coordinates of the foci and vertices for each ellipse whose center is at (0, 0).
𝑦2 𝑥2
1. + 16 = 1
40
2. x2 + 3y2 + 4x + 6y + 1 = 0

6
 Evaluation

Express each equation of the ellipse in standard form. Write your answer and solution
on a separate sheet of paper.
𝑦2 𝑥2
1. + 16 = 1
40

2. x2 + 3y2 + 4x + 6y + 1 = 0

3. 4x2 + 3y2 -16x + 4 = 0

4. 4x2 + 9y2 - 36 = 0

5. 4x2 + y2 + 8x + 4y + 4 = 0

7
 All Rights Reserved
2020

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
CAROLINA S. VIOLETA EdD
Schools Division Superintendent

CECILIA E. VALDERAMA PhD

Asst. Schools Division Superintendent

DOMINADOR M. CABRERA PhD

Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division

EDWARD C. JIMENEZ PhD

Education Program Supervisor- LR Manager

JOCELYN A. MANALAYSAY PhD

Education Program Supervisor-Mathematics

MYRA N. CAYABYAB
Developer/Writer