If the Ellipse at the White House is 616 ft long and 528 ft wide, what is its equation? For simplicity's sake, model the center at (0,0) with the x-axis as its focal axis.

Question

alexwee123 · Answer

p.652

anonymous · Answer

That's not an equation

alexwee123 · Answer

i know that exact problem is in p.652 in my book

amistre64 · Answer

lol, well then its the correct answer :)   but lets assume the book is a secret

anonymous · Answer

I don't have the book, just a paper from school.

amistre64 · Answer

there are really 2 things we need to determine to define this equation; conventionally we call them a and b

amistre64 · Answer

|dw:1335924548312:dw|

anonymous · Answer

x^2/(308^2) + y^2/(264^2)? Would that be it?

amistre64 · Answer

with these the equation is defines as:

$$\frac{x^2}{a^2}+\frac{y^2}{b^2}=1$$

where a is the longer and b the shorter values ... and they can change depending on if the ellipse is long up or long sideways

anonymous · Answer

Thank you

amistre64 · Answer

so just split those values in half that they give for long and wide ... then square them

amistre64 · Answer

good luck