Question

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

Answer 1

how far did you get?

Answer 2

\[(\frac x4)^2+(\frac y3)^2=1\]

Answer 3

I ended up getting x^2/8+y^2/sqrt73=1 but I don't think it is right

Answer 4

yeah, yours is not right

Answer 5

How did you get your answer then?

Answer 6

take the standard equation of an ellipse centered at the point (h,k)
\[(\frac{x-h}{a})^2+(\frac{y-k}{b})^2=1\]
a and b are measures for the x and y from the CENTER

we are given that the total distance for one of them is 8, half of 8 is: 4

we are given that the other measure spans from (0,3) to (0,-3); this tells us 2 things. The center is at (0,0) and the half distance is 3 on the y parts; which leaves the 4 to be on the x part

Answer 7

\[(\frac{x-h}{a})^2+(\frac{y-k}{b})^2=1\]
\[(\frac{x-0}{a})^2+(\frac{y-0}{b})^2=1\]
\[(\frac{x}{a})^2+(\frac{y}{3})^2=1\]
\[(\frac{x}{4})^2+(\frac{y}{3})^2=1\]