1

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CONCEPT NO
TES
NOTES

01.

Introduction

02.

Tangents

03.

More on Tangents and Chords

04.

Normals

Mathematics / Ellipse

LOCUS

Section - 1

INTRODUCTION

Parabolas, which we studied in the last chapter, are conic sections with eccentricity e = 1. In this section, we study
ellipses, which have e < 1. This means, by definition, that an ellipse is the locus of a moving point such that the ratio
of its distance from a fixed point to its distance from a fixed line is a constant less than unity. In fact we will soon
discover that an ellipse has two foci and two directrices.
We now start by first writing down the basic equations representing an ellipse.
Let F represent the focus of an ellipse and L be its directrix. Let Q be any point on the ellipse.
Q

If the eccentricity of this ellipse is given to be e, we must have

Distance of Q from F
Distance of Q from the line L

QF
QN

Draw a line through F perpendicular to the directrix L, which meets the directrix at M. On this line, we can always
find two points, say P and P', which divide the line segment MF internally and externally respectively in the ratio
1 : e.
y
We can always find two points
P and P' such that
M

x
P

P'

Directrix L

Thus, by definition, P and P ' will both lie on the ellipse.

Mathematics / Ellipse

PF P'F
=
=e
PM P'M

LOCUS

We will now introduce co-ordinates into this geometry. We assume the x-axis to coincide with the horizontal line
and the origin to be at the mid-point of PP'. The co-ordinates of P and P' can be assumed to be (a, 0) and
(a, 0):
y

F
M

P(-a, 0)

P'(-a, 0)

PF
PM

Since

M are

ePM

PF
PM

e, we have

PF

PF

PP

e ( PM

PM)

2a

e(2 PM

PP )

2ePM

2ae

PM

This gives PF

e and

e( PM

PM)

a
(1 e)
e

a (1 e ) and OM

OP PM

a
. Thus the co-ordinates of F are (ae, 0) and that of
e

a
,0 .
e

Till now we have assumed F to be the focus of the ellipse and L to be the directrix. However, by the symmetry
inherent in Fig -3, you might be able to infer that there should exist another focus F ' and directrix L ', to the right
of O as shown below:
y

M
( -a ,0)
e
L

P
F
( a,0) (ae,0)

F'
P'
(ae,0) (a,0)

M'
( a ,0)
e

L'

That there exist another focus and directrix will become evident once we obtain the equation of the ellipse.
Mathematics / Ellipse

LOCUS

To find the equation of the ellipse we assume the co-ordinates of any point Q lying on the ellipse as (x, y):
y
Q(x, y)

( -a ,0)
e

N'

F(ae,0)

( a ,0)
e

F ' (ae,0)

L'

We thus have
QF
QN

( x ae) 2

y2

e2

a
e

x
x2

y2

a 2e2

2aex

x 2 (1 e2 ) y 2

a2

2aex

a 2 (1 e 2 )

x2
a2

y2
1
a 2 (1 e2 )

x2
a2

y2
b2

e2 x 2

where b 2

a 2 (1 e 2 )

This is the equation of the ellipse; any point (x, y) on the ellipse must satisfy this equation.
The symmetric nature of this equation should convince you that there does indeed exist another focus F ' and
another directrix L '. In fact, you are now urged to verify the truth of this explicitly by proving that for any point
Q(x, y) lying on the ellipse as in Fig - 5, we always have
QF
QN

Mathematics / Ellipse

QF
QN

LOCUS

We finally plot the ellipse taking help of the equation obtained.

y

Q
N

N'
P

F'
R'

P'

M'

L'

The co-ordinates of R and R' can be obtain by substituting x = 0 in the equation of the ellipse obtained :
y

Thus,

(0, b) and R

(0, b ) .

PP', whose length equals 2a, is termed the

of the ellipse, while RR ', whose length equals 2b, is termed
the
of the ellipse. The names are self-explanatory. The coordinates of F and F ' have already been
2a
mentioned : (ae, 0) and (ae, 0) so that FF ' = 2ae. Also, MM
.
e
We now note a very important fact about any ellipse from Fig - 6. Since Q lies on the ellipse, we have by definition,
QF
QN

QF
QN

QF QF

e
e(QN QN )
e( NN )
e( MM )

2a
This means that for any point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances from the two foci is a constant, and equal to the
major axis of the ellipse. In fact, this property itself is sometimes used to define an ellipse:
An ellipse is a locus of a moving point Q such that the sum of its distances from two fixed
points F and F , i.e., QF + QF , is a constant. F and F are termed the foci of the ellipse.
The two definitions of the ellipse, one through eccentricity and one through the constant sum of distances, are
equivalent.

Mathematics / Ellipse

LOCUS

There is a very nice way to plot an ellipse very precisely. Fix two pegs on a board at a distance l, and tie a string
of length L > l between these two pegs. Using your pen, stretch this string away from the pegs, so that it becomes
taut :

Now always keeping the string taut, mark out a complete revolution on the paper with the pen. Youve just made
an ellipse ! This is because keeping the string taut ensures that the sum of the distances of the tip of your pen from
the two foci is always constant, equal to L.

Move the pen while

keeping the string taut

The pen traces

out an 'ellipse'

Can you calculate the eccentricity of this ellipse we just made? If we compare this ellipse with the standard form
obtained earlier, we have

2ae l
2a
e

L
l
L

We now discuss some terminology related to an ellipse which weve already seen for the case of parabolas.
Mathematics / Ellipse

LOCUS

x2 y 2
1 be the ellipse and F, F ' be the two foci (refer to fig - 6). The focal
a 2 b2
distances of Q are simply the two distances QF and QF .
Let

QF

eQN

e x

QF

eQN

a
e
a
e

a ex

a ex

Thus, the two focal distances of any point (x, y) are (a + ex) and (a ex). The sum is
2a, as expected.
:

This is the chord passing through any of the two foci and perpendicular to the major
axis. To evaluate the length of the latus-rectum, we must evaluate the y-coordinates of
the two extremities of the latus rectum. In the equation of the ellipse
x2
a2
we substitute x

y2
b2

ae ( the x-coordinates of the two foci). Thus

y2

b2 1

x2
a2

a 2 (1 e 2 )2
y

a (1 e 2 )
b2
a

Thus, the length l of the latus-rectum is

l

2b 2
a

Example 1
Find the lengths of the major and minor axes and the foci for these ellipses:
16 x 2

25 y 2

x2 4 y2

2x

25 x 2 16 y 2

Mathematics / Ellipse

400
0
400

LOCUS

The given equation can be written in the form of the standard equation of an ellipse :
16 x 2
400

25 y 2
400

x2 y2
25 16

x2 y2
1
52 42
Thus, comparing with the standard form, we have
a = 5, b = 4
The major axis is of length 2a = 10 and the minor axis is of length 2b = 8.
The eccentricity of the ellipse is
e

b2
a2

3
5

Thus, the two foci are at ( ae, 0), i.e., at ( 3, 0).

We first rearrange the equation of the ellipse to standard form :
x2

4 y2

( x 1)

2x 1
4 y2

( x 1)2
12

y2
1
( 1 )2
2
Instead, of x, we have x 1. This means that the center of the ellipse is at (1, 0) instead of (0, 0).
As in the unit on parabola, we can use a translation of the axes (refer to Parabolas) :
X

x 1, Y

y.

so that the equation of the ellipse in the X-Y system is

X2
Y2
1
2
12
1
2
1
, the major and minor axes are 2 and 1 respectively, while the eccentricity
Since a = 1 and b
2
1
3
1
. Thus, the two foci are at (in the X-Y system):
is e
4
2
3
,0
2
In the original x-y system, we use the reverse transformation x
in the original system are at
1
Mathematics / Ellipse

3
,0
2

X 1, y

Y , so that the foci

LOCUS

25 x 2 16 y 2

400
x2
16

y2
1
25

x2
(4) 2

y2
(5) 2

Here, we see that b = 5 is greater than a = 4, which means that the major axis will lie not along the
x-axis but along the y-axis, and obviously, since the foci lie on the major axis, the foci will also lie
on the y-axis. The major and minor axes are of lengths 2b = 10 and 2a = 8 respectively. The
eccentricity is e
i.e. at (0,

a2
(a and b get interchanged )
b2

3
. Thus, the two foci lie at (0, be ),
5

3).
y
(0,5)
Since the major-axis is
along the y-axis, the two
foci also lie along the y-axis.
Their coordinates are

F1
(-4,0)

(4,0)

x
and

F1= (0, 3)
F2= (0, 3)

F2
(0 ,-5)

32
2a 2
The length of the latus rectum in this case will be given by
and will be equal to
5
b

Mathematics / Ellipse

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We pause briefly and summarize whatever weve covered uptill now.

SUMMARY
BASICS ON ELLIPSE

Definition 1

An ellipse is the locus of a moving point such that the ratio

of its distance from a fixed point to its distance from a
fixed line is a constant less than unity. This constant is
termed the eccentricity of the ellipse. The fixed point is the
focus while the fixed line is the directrix.
The symmetrical nature of the ellipse ensures that there
will be two foci and two directrices.

Definition 2

An ellipse is the locus of a moving point such that the sum

of its distances from two fixed points is constant. The two
fixed points are the two foci of the ellipse. To plot the
ellipse, we can use the peg-and-thread method described
earlier.

STANDARD EQUATION
x2
a2

Vertices
Foci
Major axis
Minor axis
Directrices

Eccentricity e

(a, 0) and (-a, 0)

(ae, 0) and (-ae, 0)
2a (along x-axis)
2b (along y-axis)
x

a
and x
e

b2
a2

a
e

y2
b2

(0, b) and (0, -b)

(0, be) and (0, -be)
2b (along y-axis)
2a (along x-axis)
y

b
and y
e
1

a2
b2

Latus-recutm

2b 2
a

2a 2
b

Focal distances of (x, y)

a ex

b ey

Mathematics / Ellipse

b
e

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LOCUS

And lastly, if the equation of the ellipse is

)2

(x

)2

(y

a2

b2

instead of the usual standard form, we can use the transformation X

and Y
(basically
y
x
a translation of the axes so that the origin of the new system coincides with ( , ). The equation then
becomes
X2
a2

Y2
b2

We can now work on this form, use all the standard formulae that wed like to and obtain whatever it
is that we wish to obtain. The final result (in the x-y system) is obtained using the reverse transformation
and y Y .
x X

Example 2
Find the equation of the ellipse with centre at the origin, foci at ( 1, 0) and e

1
.
2

Let the major axis be of length 2a. The distance between the two foci, 2ae, is equal to 2 for this
example.

2ae 2
a

1
e

a (1 e 2 )

Thus,
3

The equation of the ellipse is therefore

x2
4

y2
3

Example 3
Find the equation of the ellipse whose major and minor axes lie along the lines x 3 y 3 0 and 3 x
and whose lengths are 6 and 2 6 respectively.

Mathematics / Ellipse

y 1 0

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LOCUS

The equation to the ellipse will obviously not be in the standard form since the axes are not along the
coordinate axes. However, we can use the coordinate axes formed by these two lines as our reference
frame

B1

A1

P( X,Y )

A1 A2 = 6

B1 B2 = 2 6
L 1 : x 3y + 3 = 0

A2

Assume any point on

the ellipse as P(x, y)
referred to the original
axes or P(X, Y) referred
to the new axes

B2
L2 : 3 x + y 1= 0

Consider an arbitrary point P on the ellipse whose coordinates are (x, y) with respect to the original
axes (not shown) and (X, Y) with respect to the new axes, the L1 L2 system. In this new system, the
equation of the ellipse is simply
X2
a2
where a = 3 and b

Y2
b2

6. Thus, the equation is

X2
9

Y2
6

...(1)

Now, we wish to write the equation of the ellipse in the x-y coordinate system. For this purpose, we
make the following observations from the figure:
What is X ? It is simply the perpendicular distance of P from L2:
X

3x

y 1
10

Similarly, Y is simply the perpendicular distance of P from L1 :

x 3y 3
10

Thus, using (1), the equation of the ellipse in x-y form is

(3 x

y 1)2
90

( x 3 y 3) 2
60

21x 2 6 xy 29 y 2 6 x 58 y 151 0
Mathematics / Ellipse

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LOCUS

As an exercise find the centre and the foci of this ellipse.

(
The centre is simply the intersection of L1 and L2. The foci are at ( ae, 0) in the X -Y system.
To find the foci in the x-y system, find the two points along L1 which are at a distance of ae from O on
either side of it)
Although we will not have much use for it, it is still worth mentioning that given an arbitrary fixed point P(h, k) and
an arbitrary fixed straight line lx my n 0 as the focus and directrix of an ellipse with eccentricity e, its
equation can be written by using the definition of an ellipse. Let (x, y) be any point on the ellipse:
Distance of (x, y ) from P
Distance of (x, y) from the line
( x h) 2 ( y k ) 2

e2

(lx my n) 2
l 2 m2

This gives us the general equation of an ellipse with a given eccentricity, focus and directrix. However, we will
almost always be using the (simple !) standard form of the equation.
Example 4
x2
a2
inside or outside the ellipse ?
Given an ellipse S ( x, y) :

y2
1 0 and a fixed point P( x1 , y1 ), how will we determine whether P lies
b2

The approach we will follow here is the same as the one we used in circles and parabolas to solve the
same question. Suppose P lies external to the ellipse as shown below. Drop a vertical line from P
intersecting the ellipse at Q.
y
P(x1, y1)
Q (x1, y0)
x

Since Q lies on the ellipse, we have

Mathematics / Ellipse

x12
a2

y02
b2

y02

b2 1

x12
a2

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LOCUS

Since P lies external to the ellipse, we must have y1

y12

y02

y12

b2 1

x12
a2

y12
1 0
b2

y0 so that

x12
a2

S ( x1 , y1 ) 0
This condition must be satisfied if P lies outside the ellipse. (Convince yourself that

P may

be outside the ellipse, this condition must hold). Similarly, P lies inside the ellipse if S ( x1 , y1 ) 0. We
can write all this concisely as
S ( x1 , y1 ) 0
S ( x1 , y1 ) 0

P( x1 , y1 ) lies inside the ellipse

P( x1 , y1 ) lies on the ellipse

S ( x1 , y1 )

P( x1 , y1 ) lies outside the ellipse

Example 5
An athlete running around a race track finds that the sum of his distances from two flag posts is always 10 metres
while the distance between the flag posts is 8 meters. What is the area that the race track encloses ?
y

P1

P2

AP1 + AP2 is always

10 metres, for any
position of A on the
race track

From the situation described, the race track must be an ellipse. The eccentricity is simply
e

8
10

4
5

(Refer to Page -5 to understand how to find eccentricity in such a scenario).

Mathematics / Ellipse

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LOCUS

If the major axis is of length 2a, we have

PP
1 2

2ae 8

a 5
Thus, b

a (1 e2 )

3. The equation of the elliptical race track is

x2
25

y2
9

To evaluate the area enclosed, we solve the general problem:

x2
What is the area enclosed by the ellipse 2
a

y2
b2

1?

To find the area, we divide the ellipse into elemental strips of width dx : one such strip is shown below.
y

hx
x

The area of the elemental strip shown is

dA 2hx dx
2b 2
a
a

x 2 dx

The area of the right half of the ellipse is therefore

a

Ahalf

2b
a2
a 0

x 2 dx

ab

The total area of the ellipse is thus

A 2 Ahalf

ab

For the current example, the area becomes

A
Mathematics / Ellipse

5 3 15

sq. mt.

hx represents the height

of an elemental strip at
distance x from the centre.
Note from the equation
of the ellipse that
b
hx = a a2 x 2

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LOCUS

Example 6
Show that the sum of the reciprocals of the squares of any two diameters of an ellipse which are at right angles to
one another is a constant.
By a diameter of an ellipse, we mean any chord which passes through its centre.
x2 y 2
1 be the ellipse and let AB and CD be any two diameters of the ellipse perpendicular
a 2 b2
to each other.
y
Let

A
C
x

O
D
B

Since AB and CD are diameters, we can assume AO = OB = r1, and CO = OD = r2. Also, if the slope
of AB is given by , than that of CD is obviously

2
Thus, we get the co-ordinates of A, B, C and D as

A, B

(r1 cos 1 , r1 sin )

C, D

r2 cos

, r2 sin

( r2 sin , r2 cos )
These coordinates must satisfy the equation of the ellipse; we therefore obtain :
r12 cos 2
a2
1
r12

r12 sin 2
b2

cos 2
a2

sin 2
b2

1 and

r22 sin 2
a2

1
r22

sin 2
a2

and

r22 cos 2
b2
cos 2
b2

Adding these two relations, we have

1
r12

1
r22

1
(2 r1 ) 2
1
AB 2

1
a2
1
(2 r2 ) 2
1
CD 2

1
b2
1
4a 2
1
4a 2

1
4b 2
1
4b 2

This proves the assertion stated in the question.

Mathematics / Ellipse

(a constant)

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LOCUS

Example 7

AUXILIARY CIRCLE

x2 y 2
1 be an ellipse. Assume a > b. A circle is described on the major axis of this ellipse as diameter.
a 2 b2
From any point P on this circle, a perpendicular PQ is dropped onto the major axis of the ellipse. Show that PQ
will always be divided in a fixed ratio by the ellipse.
Let

y
P

P = (a cos , a sin )

R
O

The justification for

these coordinates is
given below.

As is evident, the radius of this circle, called the

is
x2

R = (a cos , b sin )
Q = (a cos , 0)

y2

of the ellipse, is a, so that its equation

a2

Now any point P on this circle can be taken in parametric form as P

the angle that OP makes with the horizontal.
To evaluate the y-coordinate of R, we substitute x
a 2 cos 2
a2
y

y2
b2

(a cos , a sin ) where

is

a cos in the equation of the ellipse :

1

b sin

Thus, R is the point ( a cos , b sin ) while Q is simply ( a cos , 0). We now see that
PR
RQ

a sin
b sin
b sin

a
1
b

which is independent of , proving the stated assertion.

x2 y 2
1. We obtained the
a2 b2
coordinates of R as ( a cos , b sin ). This tells us that an alternative way to specify an ellipse is in
terms of a parameter :
There is one significant fact that we can learn about the ellipse

x
Mathematics / Ellipse

a cos , y

b sin

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LOCUS

x2 y 2
1. is called the
a 2 b2
of the point ( x , y ) ( a cos , b sin ). It is important to note that
is
the angle that
( a cos , b sin ) makes with the horizontal; it is the angle which the corresponding point on the
This is referred to as the parametric form of the ellipse

auxiliary circle makes with the horizontal. Depending on what value

takes in the range [0, 2 )

(or (- , ]), the parametric form ( a cos , b sin ) gives us different points on the circumference of
the ellipse.

The point ( a cos , b sin ) in sometimes simply referred to as the point .

Example 8

What are the eccentric angles of the extremities of the latus-recta in the ellipse

x2
a2

y2
b2

As discussed earlier, the co-ordinates of the end-points of the latus-recta are

1?

ae,

b2
. Thus, if
a

we assume the required eccentric angle to be , we have

a cos

ae

b sin

b2
a

This gives us four values of , given by

tan

b
ae

corresponding to the four extremities of the two latus-recta :

y
C'

A'

A
x

D
D'

Mathematics / Ellipse

B
B'

The two latus-recta AB and CD

meet the auxiliary circle in A', B', C'
and D'. The slopes of the lines
joining the origin to these four points
give us the eccentric angles of the
four extremities. Here, only one
possible value of has been shown:
the eccentric angle of point A

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LOCUS

x2 y2
1.
a 2 b2
We wish to determine the equation of the chord joining these two points.
Consider two points

and

lying on the ellipse

y
(a cos , b sin )
x

(a cos , b sin )

Using the two point form, we have

y b sin
x a cos

b sin
a cos

y b sin
x a cos

b
a

x
cos
a
x
cos
a

b sin
a cos

cos

sin

y
sin
b

y
sin
b

cos cos

cos

sin sin

This is the most general equation of a chord joining any two arbitrary points
on the ellipse. As an exercise using this form try writing

and

(a) the equation of any chord passing through the origin

and

(b) the equation of the latus-recta by using the eccentric angles of its extremities which
we derived earlier.

Example 9
Suppose that the chord joining the points

and
1

on the ellipse

x2
a2

Show that
tan
Mathematics / Ellipse

tan

h a
.
h a

y2
b2

1 intersects the major-axis in (h, 0).

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LOCUS

By the result we just derived, the equation of the chord joining

x
cos
a

y
sin
b

and

cos

is

If this passes through (h, 0), we have

h
cos
a

h
a

cos

cos

h a
h a

cos

2
2

cos

cos

tan

2
2

2
1

tan

cos

cos

2
2

Example 10
A circle intersects the ellipse
1

and

. Show that

x2
a2

y2
b2

1 in four points A, B, C and D whose eccentric angles are respectively

3

will be an integral multiple of 2 .

Suppose that the circle cuts the ellipse as shown :

y

B( 2 )

A( 1 )
x

C( 3)

Mathematics / Ellipse

D( 4 )

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LOCUS

Using the general equation of a chord joining two arbitrary points on an ellipse derived earlier, we can
write L1 0 and L2 0, the equation of AB and CD respectively. Doing this has the advantage that
we can now write (using a family of circles approach) any circle passing through the four point A, B,
C and D as

L1 L2

where S = 0 is the equation of the ellipse. Imposing the necessary condition of

represent a circle will finally yield the constraint we are actually looking for.

for this equation to

Thus, any curve through A, B, C, D has the form

x
a2

y
b2

x
cos
a
cos

y
sin
b

2
1

x
cos
a

2
3

cos

y
sin
b

Equation of AB

Equation of CD

This represents a circle if

Coeff. of x 2

Coeff. of y 2

Coeff. of xy

1
a2

and

cos

cos

2
sin

cos

1
b2

2
cos

b2
sin

sin

sin

The second relation gives

cos

2
1

,n

2n

,n

This is the desired result.

The result weve derived in this question is quite significant and has a good amount of use; it would therefore be
advantageous to remember it.

Mathematics / Ellipse

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LOCUS

Example 11
If px qy r

x2
0 cuts the ellipse 2
a

y2
b2

1 in points whose eccentric angles differ by

a 2 p 2 b2 q 2

, show that

2r 2

The two points of intersection can be assumed to be

P

( a cos , b sin )

a cos

, b sin

( a sin , b cos )

Since P and Q both lie on the line px qy r

ap cos

and

ap sin
ap cos

bq sin

bq cos
bq sin

0, their coordinates satisfy its equation. We thus have

r

r and ap sin

bq cos

r.

Squaring and adding the two relations gives us the described result.
Example 12
x2 y 2
1, 0 b a. Let the line parallel to the y-axis passing through P meet
a 2 b2
a 2 at the point Q such that P and Q are on the same side of the x-axis. For two positive real

Let P be a point on the ellipse

the circle x 2

y2

numbers r and s, find the locus of the point R on PQ such PR : RQ

The circle x 2

y2

r : s as P varies over the ellipse.

a 2 is the auxiliary circle of the given ellipse.

y
Q(a cos , a sin )
R
P(a cos , b sin )
x

Mathematics / Ellipse

23

LOCUS

We can assume point P to be (a cos , b sin ) so that Q will be ( a cos , a sin ). The point R(h, k)
divides the segment PQ internally in the ratio r : s. Thus,
ar cos

We need to eliminate

as cos
,k
r s

ar sin

bs sin
r s

from these two relations to obtain a relation between h and k. Thus,

h
, sin
a

cos

k (r s )
ar bs

Squaring and adding the two gives us the required relation :

h2
a2

(r s)2 k 2
(ar bs ) 2

x2
a2

(r s )2 y 2
(ar bs )2

The required locus of R is

which is an ellipse, as might have been expected.

Example 13
x2
Consider the ellipse 2
a

y2
b2

1. Let F be its focus (ae, 0) and S be its vertex (a, 0). Consider any point P on the

ellipse whose eccentric angle is , while

SFP

tan

. Prove that
1 e
tan
1 e
2

P(a cos , b sin )

We have, from the figure,

cos
Mathematics / Ellipse

FT
PF

F(ae,0)

S(a, 0)

Drop a perpendicular
PT from P onto the major
axis. The point T is then
T = ( a cos , 0)

24

LOCUS

Since F is the focus, note that PF will simply be e times the distance of P from the directrix x
Thus,
PF

a
.
e

a
a cos
e

a ae cos

cos

a (cos
e)
a(1 e cos )

tan 2

1 cos
1 cos

cos
e
1 e cos

...(1)

Thus,

(1 e)(1 cos )
(1 e)(1 cos )

{Using (1)}

(1 e)
tan 2
(1 e)
2

tan

1 e
tan
1 e
2

Example 14
x2 y2
1 where the eccentric angles of A and B are
Consider a focal chord AB of the ellipse 2
a
b2
respectively. If e is the eccentricity of the ellipse, prove that
e

and

sin 1 sin 2
sin( 1 2 )

The chord joining A and B has the equation

x
cos
a

y
sin
a

cos

...(1)

Since AB is a focal chord of the ellipse (say, it passes through F1 (ae, 0)), the coordinates of the focus
must satisfy (1) so that we have
e cos

cos

cos

cos

Mathematics / Ellipse

2
2

...(2)

25

LOCUS

Multiplying the numerator and denominator of the RHS of (2) by 2 sin

2cos

2 cos

sin

sin

, we have

2
2

sin 1 sin 2
sin( 1 2 )

Example 15
Consider an ellipse
line

x2
a2

INTERSECTION OF A LINE WITH AN ELLIPSE

y2
b2

1 and a variable line y

mx c. What is the condition on m and c such that the

intersects the ellipse in two distinct points ?

touches the ellipse ?
does not intersect with the ellipse ?
As weve done in the case of circles and parabolas, to find the intersection (points) of the line and the
ellipse, we must solve their equations simultaneously;
x2
a2

y2
b2

x2
a2

(mx c)2
b2

; y

mx c

(a 2m 2 b 2 ) x 2 2 a 2 mcx a 2 (c 2 b 2 )
The line y

...(1)

mx c
intersects the ellipse
touches the ellipse
does not touch / intersect the ellipse

accordingly as the quadratic (1) has its discriminant greater than , equal to or less than 0.
The condition for tangency (D = 0) is of special intersect. Verify that it comes out to be
c2

a2m2

b2

Thus, we can say that the line y mx

a 2m 2 b 2 will always be a tangent to the ellipse, whatever
may be the value of m. We discuss tangents in more detail in the next section.
Mathematics / Ellipse

26

LOCUS

TRY YOURSELF - I

x2
Let P be a variable point on the ellipse 2
a

y2
b2

Find the equation of the ellipse with foci at (0,

Show that x 2

4 y2

1 with foci S1 and S2. Find max(area( PS1S2 )).

4) and eccentricity

4
.
5

2 x 16 y 13 0 is the equation of an ellipse. Where are its foci ?

Find the equation of the ellipse whose foci are ( 2,3) and whose semi-minor axis is of length 5.
A straight rod of length l slides between the x-axis and the y-axis, as shown. Show that the locus of
its mid-point is an ellipse. What is its eccentricity ?
y

l
x

Show that the traingle with vertices (1, 2), (3, 1) and (2, 1)lies completely inside the ellipse
x 2 2 y 2 13.

Mathematics / Ellipse