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Pre-Calculus
Quarter 1 – Module 4:
Ellipses and Hyperbolas
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the different Conic Sections. The scope of this module permits it to be
used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the
standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can
be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module is divided into two lessons, namely:

• Lesson 4 – Ellipses
• Lesson 5 – Hyperbolas

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define an ellipse;
2. graph an ellipse given an equation in standard form;
3. define a hyperbola;
4. graph a hyperbola given an equation in standard form;
5. recognize the equation and important characteristics of the different
types of conic sections; and
6. solves situational problems involving conic sections.

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 Lesson
Conic Sections: Ellipses
4

In this module we will define and discuss another one of the conics. It is the
ellipse. Ellipse is one among geometrical shapes commonly used by many
Filipino architects in designing buildings, bridges etc. In fact, the famous
Kaybiang Tunnel, located in Nusugbu Batangas, is said to be elliptical in
shape. It has a vertical clearance of 4.85 meters and about a length of 300
meters. This elliptical tunnel is a hole through Mt. Pico de Loro.
Aside from the impressive artistry that an elliptical figure can bring as a
design, it can also be used to make sounds in the air waves to bounce back
on the wall. The ceiling of Philippine Arena is shaped like an ellipse so that
during events, sounds are confined and heard inside the place with clarity.
The lessons on ellipse in this module are quite easy and simple. You will
learn how to graph ellipse using simple steps. So, study this module very
well because there are a lot more to discover about this fascinating conic.

What’s In

Let’s look back on your previous lesson. In Lesson 2 of this module, you have
learned about circles. And you already know that circle is a special type of
ellipse.
Definition of a Circle
A circle consists of all points on the plane equidistant from a selected point
called the center. The distance from the center to any point on the circle is
constant and is called the radius of the circle.
Vertex Form of the Equation of a Circle
Equation of the circle with vertex at the origin and radius r is
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2.
The vertex form for the equation of a circle with center (h,k) and radius r is
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2.

What is It

Read the following concepts for you to gain better understanding about
ellipses.

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ELLIPSES

What is an ellipse?

An ellipse is determined by a constant and two fixed points, each

called a focus point. The constant must be greater than the distance between
the two foci. The ellipse determined by the two foci and the given constant is
the set of points (𝑥,𝑦) in the plane such that the sum of the distances from
(𝑥,𝑦) to the foci is equal to the constant.
Standard Equation of an Ellipse

The line through the foci of an ellipse is called its principal axis. The principal
axis may be horizontal or vertical. Two points on the principal axis are called
vertices and the line segment joining them is called the major axis. The
midpoint of the major axis is called the center of the ellipse. The line segment
through the center, perpendicular to the principal axis and with endpoints on
the ellipse is called the minor axis. The endpoints of the minor axis are called
co-vertices. The major axis of an ellipse can either be horizontal or vertical.

We use a to denote the distance from the center to a vertex (half the length of
the major axis), b the distance from the center to a co-vertex (half the length of
the minor axis) and c the focal distance. Take note that 𝑎 > 𝑏, and variables 𝑎, 𝑏
and 𝑐 are related according to the equation 𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏 2
From our definition of an ellipse if we let 𝑃 be a point on the ellipse and 𝐹1 and 𝐹2
the foci, then 𝑃𝐹1 + 𝑃𝐹2 = 2𝑎.

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 REMEMBER

Standard Form of the Equation of an Ellipse

EXAMPLE 1
Find the coordinates of the center, vertices, foci, and co-vertices.
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
16 9
SOLUTION
From the standard form of the ellipse,
Center: (0,0)
a = 4, b = 3, and c = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 = √16 − 9= √7
Vertices: (-4,0) and (4,0) Each vertex is a = 4 units away from the center
Co-Vertices: (0,3) and (0,-3) Each co-vertex is b = 3 units away from the
Center
Foci: (-√7,0) and (√7,0) Each focus is c = √7 units away from the center
Major axis: Horizontal Refer to the table. a is in the denominator of x

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EXAMPLE 2
Find the coordinates of the center, vertices, foci and co-vertices.
(𝑥 + 5)2 (𝑦 − 6)2
+ =1
4 9
SOLUTION
(𝑥+5)2 (𝑦−6)2
From the equation + = 1,
4 9
Center: (-5,6)
a = 3, b = 2, and c = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 = √9 − 4= √5
Vertices: (-5,9) and (5,3) Each vertex is a = 3 units away from the center
Co-Vertices: (-3,6) and (-7,6) Each co-vertex is b = 2 units away from the
Center
Foci: (-5, 6-√5) and (0,6+√5) Each focus is c = √5 units away from the center
Major axis: Vertical Refer to the table. a is in the denominator of y

EXAMPLE 3
Find the equation of an ellipse in standard form given the center (5, 4),
the major axis is horizontal and has length 16 units and minor axis is 10
units long.

SOLUTION
(𝑥−5)2 (𝑦−4)2
Substituting (5, 4) in the standard form we get + 2 = 1. The
𝑎2 𝑏
length of the major axis is, 2a = 16, and a = 8. The length of the minor axis is
2b = 10, and b = 5. Substituting the square of the computed values of a and
(𝑥−5)2 (𝑦−4)2
b in the standard equation, we have 64 + 25 = 1 as the equation of the
ellipse.

General Form of Equation of an Ellipse

EXAMPLE 4
Write 9𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 − 54𝑥 − 16𝑦 + 61 = 0 in standard form.
SOLUTION
(9𝑥 2 − 54𝑥) + (4𝑦 2 − 16𝑦) = −61 Group together the terms with
same variables

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 (9(𝑥 2 − 6𝑥) + 4(𝑦 2 − 4𝑦) = −61 Factor out 9 in all terms involving
x and factor out 4 in all terms
involving y
9(𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9) + 4(𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 + 4) = −61 + 81 + 16 Use completing the
square
9(𝑥 − 3)2 + 4(𝑦 − 2)2 = 36
(𝑥−3)2 (𝑦−2)2
+ =1 Divide both sides by 36
4 9
(𝑥−3)2 (𝑦−2)2
Therefore, + = 1 is the standard equation of the ellipse.
4 9
Graph of an Ellipse

EXAMPLE 5
𝑥2 𝑦2
Sketch the graph of the equation + =1
16 9
SOLUTION
From the standard form of the ellipse,
Center: (0,0)
a = 4, b = 3, and c = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 = √16 − 9= √7
Vertices: (-4,0) and (4,0) Each vertex is a = 4 units away from the center
Co-Vertices: (0,3) and (0,-3) Each co-vertex is b = 3 units away from the
Center
Foci: (-√7,0) and (√7,0) Each focus is c = √7 units away from the center
Major axis: Horizontal Refer to the table. a is in the denominator of x

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EXAMPLE 6
(𝑥−1)2 (𝑦+2)2
Sketch the graph of the equation + =1
4 9
SOLUTION
From the standard form of the ellipse,
Center: (1,-2)
a = 3, b = 2, and c = √𝑎2 − 𝑏2 = √9 − 4= √5
Vertices: (1,1) and (1,-5) Each vertex is a = 3 units away from the center
Co-Vertices: (3,-2) and (-2,-2) Each co-vertex is b = 2 units away from the
Center
Foci: (1,-2-√5) and (1,-2+√5) Each focus is c = √7 units away from the center
Major axis: Vertical Refer to the table. a is in the denominator of x

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What I Have Learned

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 Lesson
Conic Sections: Hyperbolas
5

We will define and graph another one of the conics. It is the hyperbola.
Hyperbola is one among favorites geometric figures used as a structural design
in buildings, roads, bridges etc.
This module will help you learn and discover interesting parts of the graph of a
hyperbola. You will be able to sketch the graph using easy steps.
Goodluck and enjoy!

What is It

Read the following concepts for you to gain better understanding about
hyperbolas.

HYPERBOLAS

What is a hyperbola?

A hyperbola, like an ellipse, is determined by a constant and two fixed

points, each called a focus point. However, instead of the sum of two distances
being a constant, as with an ellipse, in the case of the hyperbola, the difference
between two distances is constant.
More specifically, the hyperbola determined by a pair of foci and a given
constant is the set of points (𝑥,𝑦) in the plane such that the absolute value of
the difference between the distances from (𝑥,𝑦) to the foci is equal to the
constant.
Parts of a Hyperbola
The parabola has two branches. The two branches can open either right or
left or up and down, depending on whether the foci are on the horizontal or
vertical axis. Each branch of the hyperbola has a vertex and the center of
the hyperbola is the midpoint of the line segment joining the vertices.

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 𝑥2 𝑦2
The figure above shows a graph of a hyperbola with the equation 2 − 2=1.
𝑎 𝑏
Observe from these forms that the location of a hyperbola’s vertices is
determined by which coefficient is positive.

Using the graph above, the line through the foci is called the principal
axis. In this module, we only consider vertical or horizontal axis. The two
points of the hyperbola that lie on the principal axis are called the vertices
and the segment joining them is called the transverse axis. The midpoint of
the transverse axis is called the center of the hyperbola. The center is a unit
away from a vertex and c unit away from a focus. The segment perpendicular
to the transverse axis and joining points b units from the center is called the
conjugate axis. The conjugate axis is 2𝑏 long.
The variables 𝑎,𝑏 and 𝑐 are all positive and are related according to the
equation 𝑐=√𝑎2 + 𝑏2 . Take note that it is possible that 𝑎>𝑏 𝑜𝑟 𝑎<𝑏, that is, the
conjugate axis may be shorter or longer than the transverse axis.

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 REMEMBER

Standard Form of the Equation of an Ellipse

EXAMPLE 1
Find the coordinates of the center, vertices, foci of the given equation
𝑥2 𝑦2
− 49 = 1.
25
SOLUTION
From the standard form of the hyperbola,
Center: (0,0)
a = 5, b = 7, and c = √𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = √25 + 49= √74
Vertices: (-5,0) and (5,0) Each vertex is a = 4 units away from the center
Foci: (-√74,0) and (√74,0) Each focus is c = √74 units away from the center
Opening: Left and Right Refer to the table. a is in the denominator of x

EXAMPLE 2
Find the coordinates of the center, vertices, foci of the given equation
(𝑦+2)2 (𝑥−3)2
− = 1.
16 25
SOLUTION
From the standard form of the hyperbola,
Center: (3,-2)
a = 4, b = 5, and c = √𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = √16 + 25= √41
Vertices: (3,2) and (3,-6) Each vertex is a = 4 units away from the center

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Foci: (3,-2+√41) and (3,-2-√41) Each focus is c = √41 units away from the center
Opening: Upward and Downward Refer to the table. a is in the denominator
of y

General Form of Equation of a Hyperbola

EXAMPLE 3
Find the coordinates of the center, vertices, and foci of the 𝑥 2 − 2𝑦 2 −
6𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 5 = 0 and describe the graph of the hyperbola.
SOLUTION
We first express the equation in the standard form using completing
squares.
(𝑥 2 − 6𝑥) + (−2𝑦 2 − 4𝑦) = −5 Group together the terms with
same variables
(𝑥 2 − 6𝑥) − 2(𝑦 2 + 2𝑦) = −5 Factor out 9 in all terms involving
x and factor out 4 in all terms
involving y
(𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9) − 2(𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 + 1) = −5 + 9 − 2 Use completing the
square
(𝑥 − 3)2 − 2(𝑦 + 1)2 = 2
(𝑥−3)2 (𝑦+1)2
− =1 Divide both sides by 2
2 1
(𝑥−3)2 (𝑦+1)2
Therefore, 2
− 1
= 1 is the standard equation of the ellipse.

Graph of a Hyperbola

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 The figure below shows the fundamental rectangle of a hyperbola.

EXAMPLE 4
Find the coordinates of the center, vertices, foci of the given equation
and sketch the graph of the hyperbola.
𝑥2 𝑦2
− =1
25 49
SOLUTION
From the standard form of the hyperbola,
Center: (0,0)
a = 5, b = 7, and c = √𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = √25 + 49= √74
Vertices: (-5,0) and (5,0) Each vertex is a = 4 units away from the center
Foci: (-√74,0) and (√74,0) Each focus is c = √74 units away from the center
Opening: Left and Right Refer to the table. a is in the denominator of x

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EXAMPLE 5
Find the coordinates of the center, vertices, foci of the given equation
and sketch the graph of the hyperbola.
(𝑦 + 2)2 (𝑥 − 3)2
− =1
16 25
SOLUTION
From the standard form of the hyperbola,
Center: (3,-2)
a = 4, b = 5, and c = √𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = √16 + 25= √41
Vertices: (3,2) and (3,-6) Each vertex is a = 4 units away from the center
Foci: (3,-2+√41) and (3,-2-√41) Each focus is c = √41 units away from the center
Opening: Upward and Downward Refer to the table. a is in the denominator
of y

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What I Have Learned

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Activity: Ellipse Match

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References

https://www.google.com/search?ei=JWUJX5bsKdSZr7wPxveWkAU&q=cone&oq=cone&gs_l
cp=CgZwc3ktYWIQA1D4sAhYs70IYO-
_CGgAcAB4AIABAIgBAJIBAJgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-
ab&ved=0ahUKEwjWkond0cTqAhXUzIsBHca7BVIQ4dUDCAw&uact=5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plane_(geometry)

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-osalgebratrig/chapter/rotation-of-axes/

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-algebra/chapter/introduction-to-conic-
sections/#:~:text=Conic%20sections%20are%20a%20particular,ellipses%2C%20hyperbolas%
2C%20and%20parabolas.

https://nrich.maths.org/2561

https://www.augusta.k12.va.us/cms/lib/VA01000173/Centricity/Domain/766/Algebra%202
%20Textbook/chap08.pdf

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