Key Terms
Example
Room 96 feet long, 46 feet wide.
General form looks like
Ax^2 + by^2 + cx + dy + e = 0
Steps
1. Group x-terms and y-terms; move the constant to the right side.
Process
1. Identify the longer dimension as 2a; the shorter as 2b.
Conic section
A shape formed by intersecting a right circular cone with a plane
Ellipse
The set of all points where the sum of distances to two fixed foci is constant
Focus (foci)
The two fixed reference points inside an ellipse, both on the major axis
Major axis
The longer axis of the ellipse; contains the vertices and foci
Minor axis
The shorter axis; perpendicular to the major axis at the center
Vertices
The two endpoints of the major axis
Co-vertices
The two endpoints of the minor axis
Center
The midpoint of both axes