MARITIME ACADEMY OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC-KAMAYA POINT

DGE303/EGE303 DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMICS

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS WITH
Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines – PTGWO-ITF
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
Kamaya Point, Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan
TITLE CALCULUS1 MODULE
ISSUE NO. 0 REV. 0 DATE EFFECTIVE: PAGE 1 OF 5
Course: Differential Calculus with Analytic Geometry
Module Number: 4
Topic: Ellipse and Circle

Learning Outcomes: The students should be able to:

1. identify an equation of an ellipse or circle.
2. write the equation of an ellipse or circle in standard and in general form.
3. draw the conic section by using the special features like vertex, focus, ends of the latus rectum, directrices.
4. Solve real world problems involving ellipse/ circle.
Keywords and Concepts:
A. Ellipse B. Circle
Center Major axis Vertices Center Secant line
Foci Minor axis Eccentricity Radius Tangent line
Latus Rectum Directrices Diameter

Lecture
A: Ellipse
An Ellipse is the set of all points P in a plane such that the sum of the distances of P from two fixed points
is constant. The two fixed points are called foci, F1 and F2 and the constant value is the distance
between the vertices along the major axis.

B1 Center: C(h,k)
E1 E2 CV1= a
CB1= b
F1 C (h,k) F2 CF1= c
V1 ● V2
a >b
a2 = b2 + c2 c = ae
E'1 ● E’2 Major axis: V1V2 =2a
B2 P Minor axis: B1B2 =2b
D2
Directrix: D1 Foci: F1 and F2
Latus Rectum: EE’
F1P + F2P = 2a Directrices: D1 and D2
│CD1│ = a2 /c
│FE2│= b2/a

An ellipse is a central conic. It has its center at C with coordinates (h,k).

The chord through the center containing the vertices V1 and V2 and the foci Fi 1nd F2 is called the
major axis. The chord through the center and perpendicular to the major axis is called the minor axis.
The eccentricity e = CF/CV = c/a
Eccentricity of an ellipse : 0 < e <1
when e is close to 0, the curve is more round.
when e is close to 1, the curve is flatter.

Equation of an Ellipse:

I. General Equation: Ax2+Cy2+Dx+Ey+F=0

D2 E 2
For an ellipse to exist, the sign of (  F   ) must be the same as A and B
4 A 4B
 MARITIME ACADEMY OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC-KAMAYA POINT
DGE303/EGE303 DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMICS
DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS WITH
Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines – PTGWO-ITF
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
Kamaya Point, Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan
TITLE CALCULUS1 MODULE
ISSUE NO. 0 REV. 0 DATE EFFECTIVE: PAGE 2 OF 5

(x  h)2 (y  k)2 (x  h)2 (y  k)2

II. Standard Equation:  1 or  1
a2 b2 b2 a2
where the center is at (h,k) and a > b

The table shows a summary of the features of ellipses with vertical and horizontal major axes.

Let C(h,k) be the center of the ellipse, a > b, and a2 = b2 + c2

Major Axis Horizontal Major Axis Vertical Major Axis
Equation in Standard form 2 2 2 2
(x  h) (y  k) (x  h) (y  k)
 1  1
2 2 2 2
a b b a
VerticesV: V1 ,V2 (h±a, k) (h, k±a)
Ends of Minor axis: B1 ,B2 (h, k±b) (h±b, k)
Foci: F1 , F2 (h±c, k) (h, k±c)
2
Ends of Latera recta E (h ± c, k ± b /a) (h± b2/a, k±c)
2
Directrices: X= h ± a /c Y= k ± a2/c

B. Circle
 A circle is a set of points that are equidistant from a fixed point called center.
 The constant distance is radius.
 A circle is a special case of an ellipse.
 The eccentricity of a circle is 0.
 When the general equation Ax2+By2+Dx+Ey+F=0 has A=B,
the equation may be reduced to x2+y2+Dx+Ey+F=0 , which can be transformed into a
standard form (x-h)2+(y-k)2=r2 .
The graph is a circle when r2>0, a point when r=0, and there is no graph when r 2<0.

tangent line
diameter
radius
●
C(h,k)

secant line

Applications:
a. The reflective property of an ellipse is the principle behind "whispering galleries." These are rooms with
elliptically shaped ceilings such that a person standing at one focus can hear even the slightest whisper
spoken by another person standing at the other focus.
b. Many buildings and bridges use the ellipse as a pleasing (and strong) shape.
c. Orbiting satellites (including the earth revolving around the sun, and the moon revolving around us) trace out
elliptical paths.

Examples:
1. Given : 16x2 + 9y2 + 64x ─ 54y +1 = 0
Req’d: a) Put the equation in standard form. Identify the curve.
 MARITIME ACADEMY OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC-KAMAYA POINT
DGE303/EGE303 DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMICS
DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS WITH
Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines – PTGWO-ITF
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
Kamaya Point, Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan
TITLE CALCULUS1 MODULE
ISSUE NO. 0 REV. 0 DATE EFFECTIVE: PAGE 3 OF 5
b) Determine the coordinates of the: center (C), vertices (V), Ends of minor axis (B),
foci (F), end-points of the latus rectum E, directrices (D).
c) Graph. Label the parts required in b.

Solution: a. Express the general equation in standard form: 16x2 + 9y2 + 64x ─ 54y +1 = 0
16(x2+4x ) + 9(y2 ─ 6y ) = ─ 1
16(x2+4x+4) + 9(y2- 6y +9) =144

(x 2) 2 (y 3) 2
Standard form:   1 The curve is an ellipse with a vertical major axis
9 16
b. Parts of the ellipse put in table form
Form of the equation (x h) 2 (y k) 2
 1 a>b c2= a2 ─ b2
b2 a2
Equation in Standard form (x 2) 2 (y 3) 2
 1
9 16
Vertical Major Axis a=4 , b=3, c=√7=2.65
Center: C(h,k) (-2,3)
Vertices: V (h, k±a) V1(-2, 7) V2(-2, -1)
Ends of Minor axis: B (h±b, k) B1 (--5,3), B2(1,3)
Foci: F (h, k±c) F1(-2,5.65) , F2(-2, -0.35)
Endpoints of the latera recta:E b2/a= 9/4= 2.25
E1, E2: (h ± b2/a, k+c) E1(-4.25, 5.65), E2(0.25, 5.65)
E1’, E2’: (h ± b2/a, k ̶ c) E1’(-4.25, -0.35), E2’(0.25, -0.35)
Directrices: D: Y= k ± a2/c I center to directrix I = a2/c = 16/2.65 = 6
D1: Y1=9 D2: Y2= ̶ 3

c. Graph Y
D1: Y1=9

V1(-2,7)
●

E1(-4.25,5.65) ● E2(0.25,5.65)
F1(-2,5.65)

B1(-5,3) ● B2(1,3)
C(-2, 3)

F2(-2,--0.35) X
E1’(-4.25, -0.35) ● E2’(0.25,-0.35)
●
V2(-2,-1)
D: Y2= -3

2. The arch of an underpass is a semi-ellipse 60ft wide and 20ft high. Solve for the vertical clearance at the
edge of a lane if the edge is 25ft from the middle.
 MARITIME ACADEMY OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC-KAMAYA POINT
DGE303/EGE303 DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMICS
DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS WITH
Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines – PTGWO-ITF
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
Kamaya Point, Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan
TITLE CALCULUS1 MODULE
ISSUE NO. 0 REV. 0 DATE EFFECTIVE: PAGE 4 OF 5
Solution: a. Diagram
Y
(0,20)
●
(-25,Y)● b=20 (25,Y)
●

Y
X=25 (30,0)
● X
(0,0)
a=30

The arch is in the shape of half of an ellipse with center at (0,0), where the semi-major and semi-minor axes
have lengths a=30 ft and b=20 ft, respectively. To solve for the vertical clearance, we need to have the
equation of the ellipse, then solve for Y when X is 25 ft from the center along the horizontal line.
Equation of the ellipse with a horizontal major axis, C(0,0), a=20, b=30:

(x  0) (y 0) 2 x2 y2
2
 2
1 or  1
30 20 900 400
When X=±25, Y=11.06
Therefore, the vertical clearance at the edge of the lane is 11.06 ft when the horizontal distance from the
middle is 25 ft.

3. Given : 3x2 + 3y2 ─ 6x + 12y ─ 1= 0

Req’d : a) Put the equation in standard form. Identify the curve.
b) Graph. Label the important points.

Exercises:
1. Given: a. 9x2 + 4y2 ─90x + 189 = 0
b. x2 + y2 + 6x +10y + 25 =0
Req’d: a) Put the equation in standard form. Identify the curve.
b) Determine the coordinates of the: C, V, F, E, (if any)
Determine the equation of the directrices, if any.
c) Graph. Label the parts required in b.

2. Given the description of an ellipse, solve for the equation and draw the graph of the curve.
Label the C, V, B, F:
a. The center is at C(5,2). The major axis is horizontal and has a length of 8 units. The minor axis has a
length of 6 units.
b. The Foci are at F1(-2,10) F2(-2, 0). End of a minor axis at B1(-4,5).

3. The perimeter of a triangle is 20 and two vertices are (2, 2) and (6,2).
Req’d: Solve for the equation of the curve traced by the third point.

4. The earth’s orbit is is an ellipse with the sun as one focus. The length of the major axis is
186,000,000 mi and the eccentricity is 0.0167.
 MARITIME ACADEMY OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC-KAMAYA POINT
DGE303/EGE303 DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMICS
DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS WITH
Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines – PTGWO-ITF
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
Kamaya Point, Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan
TITLE CALCULUS1 MODULE
ISSUE NO. 0 REV. 0 DATE EFFECTIVE: PAGE 5 OF 5
Req’d: a. Solve for the equation of the earth’s orbit.
b. Solve for the shortest and longest distances between the earth and the sun.

5. The arch of an underpass is in the form of an ellipse 80 ft wide at the base and 25 ft high at the center. Solve
for the vertical clearance at a point 30 ft from the center.

6. The line x +y=2 is tangent to a circle at the point (4, ─2). The circle has its center on the x-axis.
Req’d: a. Solve for the equation of the circle.
b. Graph showing the circle and tangent line.
Label the center, the point of tangency, and the curves.

Additional Resources:
a. The Calculus with Analytic Geometry by Louis Leithold
b. Calculus and Analytic Geometry by George B. Thomas Jr and Ross L.Finney
c. Differential Calculus with Analytic Geometry Modules