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Ellipses and Hyperbolas

Section 11.2
MATH 116-460
Mr. Keltner
Ellipses
 An ellipse is the set of all points
where the sum of distances from two
fixed points is constant.
 The orbits of planets are often y

elliptical in shape.
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 Use the graph below


to construct an ellipse
f1 f2
using two foci (the x

plural of focus), f1
and f2.
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Ellipses Centered at (0, 0)
 The equation of an ellipse that has
 A center at (0, 0),
 x-intercepts at (a, 0), and (-a, 0), and
 y-intercepts at (0, b), and (0, -b) is

x 2
y 2
x  h 2
y  k
2

2  2 1 2  2 1
a b a b
 If the center of the ellipse is at (h, k), then
 the graph exists a units left and right of (h, k)
 And exists b units above and below (h, k)
 
Example 1(a)
 Graph each ellipse. Label the center and
the points above, below, left, and right of
the center. y

2 2 5

x y
 1
36 9
x

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Example 1(b)
 Graph each ellipse. Label the center and
the points above, below, left, and right of
the center. y

x 1 2
y  2
2 5

 1
25 36
x

-5
-5 5
Hyperbolas
 A hyperbola is the set of all points whose
difference of distances from two fixed
points remains constant.
 Just like with an ellipse, the two fixed points
are called foci and the point halfway between
the foci is the center.
 There are two looks of the graph of a
hyperbola, depending on the order in which
the terms are subtracted.
 Positive x-term, the graph has only x-intercepts.
 Positive y-term, the graph has only y-intercepts.
Hyperbolas in Standard Form
 The equation for a  The equation for a
hyperbola with hyperbola with
 A center at (0, 0),  A center at (0, 0),
 x-intercepts at (a, 0)  y-intercepts at (0, b)
and (-a, 0), and and (0, -b), and
 NO y-intercepts, is  NO x-intercepts, is
x2 y2 y2 x2
2  2 1 2  2 1
a b b a

 QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
 QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Example 2
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Graphing a Hyperbola  Graph the hyperbola: x y2
 1
 Find the intercepts of the 25 16
graph.  Label the corner points of the
 Positive x-term, the graph fundamental rectangle, the
has only x-intercepts. asymptotes, and the intercepts
Positive y-term, the graph of the graph.

has only y-intercepts.  y
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 Draw a rectangle,
connecting (a, b), (-a, b),
(a, -b), and (-a, -b).
 Connect the diagonal
corners of the rectangle. x

 Draw the graph so that each


branch passes through an
intercept and approaches
the asymptotes created by
the diagonals. -10
-10 10
Assessment
Pgs. 809-812:
#’s 9-30, 45-57, multiples of 3

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