Write the equation of an ellipse with a major axis of length 8 and co-vertices (0,3) and (0,-3).

Question

anonymous · Answer

Write an equation for an ellipse with center (1, –3), vertices (1, 2) and (1, –8), and co–vertices (4, –3) and (–2, –3).

The distance between vertices (1,2),(1,-8) is sqrt[ (1-1)^2+(2+8)^2] = 10
2a=10
a=5
a^2=25
The distance between co-vertices (4,-3),(-2,-3) is sqrt[ (4+2)^2+(-3+3)^2] = 6
$$2b=6$$
$$b=3$$
$$b^2=9$$

$$(x-1)^2/25 +(y+3)^2/9 = 1$$

anonymous · Answer

thats an example!

anonymous · Answer

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the equation, since it is centered at the origin is of this form:
x^2/a^2 + y^2/b^2 = 1

can you take it from here?