Assume that the length of the major axis of a planet's orbit is 185,000,000 miles and that the eccentricity is 0.017. Estimate to the nearest 1,000 miles the maximum and minimum distances between the planet and the sun.

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valpey · Answer

Remember that the sun will be at the location of one of the foci of the elliptical orbit. Also helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccentricity_(orbit) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periapsis $$\frac{r_p}{r_a}=\frac{1-e}{1+e}$$