Surface-Ellipsoid

Quadric Surface or Conicoids:

The locus of the general equation of the second degree

A x 2+ B y 2 +C z 2+ 2 Fxy +2Gzx +2 Hxy +2 Ux+2Vy + 2Wz+ D=0 … … … (1)

In x, y, zis called a quadratic surface or a conicoid .
It is easy to show that every straight line meets a surface whose equation is of the second
degree of two points and consequently every plane sections of such a surface is a conic. This
property justifies the name conicoid as applied to the surface.
By rotation or translation of axes, or both, the general equation can be converted in to one of
the two types,
a) A x 2+ B y 2 +C z 2=D … … … … … … …. …. (2)
b) A x 2+ B y 2 +CW z 2=0 … … … … … … …. …. (3)
If one of the constant in (a) or (b) is zero, the equation may be written in one of the two forms

x 2 y 2 z2
c) ± 2 ± 2 ± 2 =1 … … … … … … … … (4)
a a c
x2 y2 2 z❑
d) ± 2 ± 2 ± 2 =1 … … … … … … … … (5)
a a c
Now (4) can represent only three fundamental distinct surface whose equations have the form

x2 y 2 z 2
+ + =1 Ellipsoid … … … … … … … …
a2 a 2 c2
(6)

x2 y 2 z 2
+ − =1 Hyperboloid of one sheet … … … … … … … … (7)
a2 a 2 c 2

x2 y 2 z 2
− − =1 Hyperboloid of two sheet … … … … … … … …
a2 a2 c 2
(8)
Since all the surfaces (6), (7) and (8) symmetrical with respect to the origin, ther are called
central quadrics or central conicoids.
The two surfaces represented by (5) are

x2 y 2 2 z ❑
+ = Elipic paraboloid … … … … … … … … (9)
a2 a 2 c 2

x2 y 2 2 z❑
− = 2 Hyperbolic paraboloid … … … … … … … … (10)
a2 a2 c
Which are all noncentral quadric.
Note: If the efficient of x2, y2, z2 are all negative in (4) then we shall get imaginary ellipsoid
or virtual quadric.

The eilipsoid:
x2 y 2 z 2
+ + =1 represent an eilipsoid where a, b, c are the semi major axes of the eilipsoid.
a2 b 2 c2

 Find the condition that the line with direction cosines l, m, n be a tangent line
and hence to find the equation of the tangent plane at a given point to the
conicoid a x 2+ b y 2+ c z 2=1
x−x 1 y− y 1 z−z 1
Let, = = =r(say) …. …. …. …. …. …. (1)
l m n
be any line through ( x , y , z ) of the conicoid

a x 2+ b y 2+ c z 2=1 …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. (2)

Since the point( x 1 , y 1 , z1 , ) lies on (2) then

a x 12+ b y 12 + c z 12 =1 …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. (3)

Any point on the line (1) is

( x 1 +lr , y 1+ mr , z 1+ nr ) …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. (4)

If the line (1) intersect the conicoid (2), the coordinate of the point (4) will satisfy (2), hence

a ( x 1 +lr ) 2+b ( y 1+ mr )2 +c ( z 1+ nr )2=1

Or, r 2 ( a l 2+ b m2+ c n2 ) +2 r ( al x 1+bm y 1+ cn z1 ) + ( a x 12 +b y 12 +c z12 ) =0 …. …(5)

r { r ( al 2 +b m 2 +c n2 ) +2 ( al x 1 +bm y 1+ cn z 1 ) }=0 by (2) … …. …. … (6)

i,e, one root of the equation (6) is zero. The line (1) will touch conicoid (2) at ( x , y , z ) if the
other root for rvanishes, and that is so if
al x 1+bm y 1+ cn z1 =0 from (6) …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. (7)

Which is the condition for the (1) to be a tangent line to (2) at ( x 1 , y 1 , z1 , )

The tangent plane at ( x 1 , y 1 , z1 , ) is the locus of all such lines which satisfy this condition and is
obtained by eliminating l, m, n between (1) and (7)
The equation of the tangent, therefor, is
a x 1 ( x −x1 ) +b y 1 ( y− y1 ) + cz ( z− z1 ) =0

Or, ax x1 +by y 1 +cz z 1=a x12 +b y 12+ c z 12

Or,ax x1 +by y 1 +cz z 1=1
Is the required equation of the tangent plane.

x2 y 2 z 2
Cor. If the surface is an ellipsoid + + =1
a2 a 2 c2
l x1 m y1 n z1
The condition of the tangent line is + 2 + 2 =0
a2 a c
x x1 y y 1 z z1
The equation of the tangent plane is 2
+ + 2 =1
a a2 c

Condition of tangency:
To find the condition that the plane
lx +my +nz= p …. ….. ….. …. …. (1)
Should touch the cinicoid

a x 2+ b y 2+ c z 2=1 …. ….. ….. …. …. (2)

If ( x 1 , y 1 , z1 , ) be the point of contact the tangent plane at ( x 1 , y 1 , z1 , )

ax x1 +by y 1 +cz z 1 …. ….. ….. …. …. (3)
Should be identical with plane (1)
We have to compairing the co-efficients .
a x1 b y 1 c z 1 1
= = = …. ….. ….. …. …. (4)
l m n p
1 1 1
x 1= , y 1= , z 1= …. ….. ….. …. …. (5)
ap bp cp

Since ( x 1 , y 1 , z1 , ) satisfies eq (2), then

a l 2 b m 2 c n2
+ + =1
a2 p 2 b 2 p 2 c 2 p2

l 2 m2 n2
Or , + + =p 2 …. ….. ….. …. …. (6)
a b c
Which is the required condition.

 Show that the equation 3 x 2+ 4 y 2 + z 2−12 x −16 y+ 4 z−4=0 represent an

ellipsoid. Find the centre and the length of the semi axis.
3 x 2+ 4 y 2 + z 2−12 x −16 y+ 4 z−4=0
Or, 3( x 2−4 x+ 4 ) +4 ( y 2−4 y+ 4 ) + ( z 2+ 4 z +4 )=36

Or, 3 ( x−2 )2 +4 ( y−2 )2+ ( z−2 )2=36

( x−2 )2 ( y−2 )2 ( z +2 )2
Or, + + =1
12 9 36
Hence the given equation represent an ellipsoid. Its centre at (2,2,-2) semi axes are 2√ 3,3,6 .

 Prove that the locus of the foot of the central perpendicular on varying tangent
x2 y 2 z 2
planes if the ellipsoid 2 + 2 + 2 =1is the surface
a a c
2 2
( x ¿ ¿ 2+ y + z ) =a x + b2 y 2 + c2 z 2 ¿.
2 2 2

x y z
Any point on the line, = = =r (say) …. …. …. …. …. (1)
l m m
Which is perpendicular to the tangent plane is ( lr , mr ,nr )
Since the point lies on one of the tangent planes,

lx+ y +nz =± √ a 2 l 2+ m2 b2 +n 2 c 2

Therefore, l 2 r + m2 r +n2 r=± ( a2 l 2 +m 2 b 2+ n2 c2 ) …. …. …. …. (2)

Eliminate l , m, nfrom (1) and (2) ,then squaring both side we have
2
( x ¿ ¿ 2+ y 2+ z2 ) =a2 x 2+ b2 y 2 + c2 z 2 ¿. ( Proved)

 Show that the equation 3 x 2+ y2 +2 z 2+ 3 x +3 y−4 z=0 represent an ellipsoid. Find

the centre and the length of the semi axis.

3 x 2+ y2 +2 z 2+ 3 x +3 y−4 z=0
1 1 3 9
(
2
4
2
2 )(
4
2
Or, 3 x +2 x + + y +2 y + + ( z −2 z + 4 ) =36
2 )
1 2 3 2 ( 3 9
( )( )
2 2
2
Or, 3 x + + y+ +2 z−1 ) = + + 2=5
4 4
2❑ 2
1 3
3(x + ) ( y+ ) 2
Or, 2 2 2 ( z−1 )
+ + =1
5 5 5
2❑
1 3 2
Or, ( ) ( )
3 x+
2
+
y+
2
+
2 ( z−1 )2
=1
5 5 5
 2❑
1 3 2
Or,
( ) +( )
x+
2
y+
2
+
( z−1 )2
=1
5 5 5
3 2
1 −3
Hence the given equation represent an ellipsoid. Its centre at (- , , 1) semi axes are
2 2
√ 5 , √ 5 , √5 .
√3 √2
 Show that the equation 2 x2 +3 y 2 + z 2−8 x+ 6 y−4 z−3=0 represent an ellipsoid.
Find the centre and the length of the semi axis.

2 x2 + 4 3+ z 2−8 x +6 y−4 z−3=0

Or, 2( x 2−4 x+ 4 ) +3 ( y 2+ 2 y +1 ) + ( z 2−4 z +4 )=18

Or, 2 ( x−2 )2+ 3 ( y +1 )2 + ( z−2 )2=18

( x−2 )2 ( y +1 )2 ( z−2 )2
Or, + + =1
9 6 18
Hence the given equation represent an ellipsoid. Its centre at (2,-1,2) semi axes are 3,√ 6,2√ 3.