CONIC SECTIONS

Bernamil B. Malintad
Review:
Review:

• A conic section is a curve formed by the

intersection of a plane and a double cone.
OBJECTIVES:
Objectives:
In this lesson, the students are expected to:
1. define and illustrate ellipse.
2. show patience in finding the standard equation
of the ellipse
3. solve problems involving ellipse
ELLIPSE
Bernamil B. Malintad
Activity:
ILLUSTRATION A ILLUSTRATION B
Activity:
Activity:
Early Greek astronomers thought
that the planets moved in circular
orbits about an unmoving earth,
since the circle is the simplest
mathematical curve.
In the 17th century, Johannes
Kepler eventually discovered that
each planet travels around the sun
in an elliptical orbit with the sun at
one of its foci.
Activity 1:
At your desk are illustration board, string, and tacks.
Follow the directions on your handout to complete
the activity.
Procedures:
• Divide students into groups of three. Give each group
a piece of graph paper glued to a piece of cardboard.
On the cardboard are two points on one of the axes,
evenly spaced from the origin, and a piece of string
with tacks at each end. Each group should have a
different set of points and a length of string. On the
back of each cardboard, write the equation of the
ellipse that will be sketched. Sample foci, string sizes
and equations below:
Procedures:
• Divide students into groups of three. Give each group
a piece of graph paper glued to a piece of cardboard.
On the cardboard are two points on one of the axes,
evenly spaced from the origin, and a piece of string
with tacks at each end. Each group should have a
different set of points and a length of string. On the
back of each cardboard, write the equation of the
ellipse that will be sketched. Sample foci, string sizes
and equations below:
Procedures:
• Group 1: foci (±3, 0), string 3 units,
• Group 2: foci (±4, 0), string 5 units,
• Group 3: foci (0, ±4), string 5 units
• Group 4: foci (±6, 0), string 2 units
Procedures:
• If both ends of the string were tied to the same
thumbtack, what shape did you trace? Why did your
shape resemble a circle?
• If you move the thumbtacks far apart and make the
string taut, what shape will your pencil draw?
• What symmetries are observed in the ellipse? Draw a
picture to illustrate any lines of symmetry.
Ellipse
•
Ellipse
• a set of points in the
plane such that the
sum of the distances
from two fixed points,
called foci, remains
constant.
Ellipse
B From each point in
A the plane, the sum of
d1
d2 the distances to the
d1 d2
x
foci is a constant.
f1 f2
Example:

foci Point A: d1+d2 = c

Point B: d1+d2 = c
y
Ellipse
Center

Major axis

f1 f2 Minor axis

foci
Equation of the Ellipse
 x  h  y  k
2 2

2
 2
1
a b
(h, k) = center of the ellipse
a = horizontal distance from center to ellipse
b = vertical distance from center to ellipse
c = distance from center to foci,
where c2 = a2 – b2 or c2 = b2 – a2
(always do bigger minus smaller)
 Writing the Equation of an Ellipse
1. Determine the center (h, k)
2. Determine the values of a and b.
a) Given a graph
b) Given the vertices and co-vertices
c) Given a vertex/co-vertex and focus
3. Plug the values of h, k, a, and b into the equation.

* It is always helpful to sketch a quick picture!

 Example:
Write an equation for the ellipse having one
focus at (3, 0), a vertex at (5,0), and its center at (0,
0).
1. Determine the center (h, k)
2. Determine the values of a and b.
a) Given a graph
b) Given the vertices and co-vertices
c) Given a vertex/co-vertex and focus
3. Plug the values of h, k, a, and b into the equation.
Application:
• A tunnel has the shape of a semi
ellipse that is 15ft high at the center,
and 36ft across at the base. At most
how high should a passing truck be, if
it is 12 ft wide, for it to be able to fit
through the tunnel? Round off your
answer to two decimal places.
Activity 2:
1. Illustrate the ellipse – label the different parts
2. Write an equation for the ellipse centered at the
origin, having a vertex at (0, –5) and containing the
point (–2, 4).
3. A bridge is built in the shape of a semi-elliptical
arch and has a span of 200ft. The height of the arch
at the distance of 60ft from the center is 30 ft. Find
the height of the arch at its center.
Activity 2:
• A bridge is built in the shape of a
semi-elliptical arch and has a span
of 200ft. The height of the arch at
the distance of 60ft from the
center is 30 ft. Find the height of
the arch at its center.
Application:
• On a far smaller scale,
the electrons of an
atom move in an
approximately
elliptical orbit with
the nucleus at one
focus.
Application:
• Any cylinder sliced on
an angle will reveal an
ellipse in cross-section
• (as seen in the Tycho
Brahe Planetarium in
Copenhagen).
Application:
• The ellipse has an
important property that is
used in the reflection of
light and sound waves.
• Any light or signal that
starts at one focus will be
reflected to the other
focus.
Application:
• The principle is also used in the construction of
"whispering galleries" such as in St. Paul's
Cathedral in London.
• If a person whispers near one focus, he can be
heard at the other focus, although he cannot be
heard at many places in between.
ASSIGNMENT
• Critical Thinking Writing Activity: Assign each
group one real-life application to research, find
pictures of, and discuss the importance of the
foci (e.g., elliptical orbits, machine gears, optics,
telescopes, sports tracks, lithotripsy, and whisper
chambers).