the foci of an ellipse are (0,+ or - 4) and the length of the major axis is 12. How long is the minor axis?

Question

amistre64 · Answer

a = 12/2 = 6
b= b
c = 4

minor axis = b+b;  b = sqrt(6^2 - 4^2)

anonymous · Answer

how does c=4?

amistre64 · Answer

4 up and 4 down from the origin there tells me that the foci are a distance of....well, 4

amistre64 · Answer

c just happens to be a leg of a rt tri and a is the hyp

anonymous · Answer

is sqrt(6^2-4^2) a formula?

amistre64 · Answer

attachment

amistre64 · Answer

since a and b are used in the equation of an ellipse; it doesnt follow the usually lettering of the pythag thrm; but the values to get the sides and such remain the same right?

anonymous · Answer

yea

amistre64 · Answer

to find the value of 'b'; we have the hyp and a leg; pythag it to find b and then b+b = minor axis

anonymous · Answer

confuuuuuuused.