MEDAL!

What is the length of the transverse axis of the hyperbola defined by the equation below?

(x-7)^2/7^2-(y+3)^2/4^2=1

(Picture below.)

Question

MEDAL!

What is the length of the transverse axis of the hyperbola defined by the equation below?

(x-7)^2/7^2-(y+3)^2/4^2=1

(Picture below.)

anonymous · Answer

jdoe0001 · Answer

the "traverse axis" for a hyperbola, is the axis where the hyperbola is opening towards, namely where the "a" component is...

anyhow... what's the POSITIVE fraction there?   the fraction with the "x" variable or the one with the "y" variable?

anonymous · Answer

the y variable!

jdoe0001 · Answer

hmmm... I should have said... what's the fraction with the POSITIVE SIGN in front of it

jdoe0001 · Answer

$\bf \color{red}{\cfrac{(x-7)^2}{7^2}}-\cfrac{(y+3)^2}{4^2}=1$

so, that's the axis where the hyperbola is opening towards, and thus that's the "traverse axis"

anonymous · Answer

so the answer would be (x-7)^2/7^2?

jdoe0001 · Answer

in a hyperbola is usually on the left-hand side anyhow

well, you're only asked for the traverse axis, so is the x-axis, the hyperbola is opening horizontally

jdoe0001 · Answer

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