Find the major and minor of the ellipse

Question

please find the major and minor axis of the ellipse

x^2/100 + y^/36= 100

Answer 1

x²/a² + y²/b² = 1

 

Because the denominator with x² > the denominator for y², we have a horizontal elipse. The square roots of 100 are 10 and -10, so our major axis runs from (-10,0) to (10,0).

 

Can you figure out the minor axis?

Answer 2

The standard equation of an ellipse is:

 

(x-h)²/a² + (y-k)²/b² = 1 where:

• (h,k) is the location of the center of the ellipse
• a = the semi-major axis
• b = the semi-minor axis

 

In your case, (h,k) = (0,0), a² = 100, b² = 36.  The major axis = 2a, the minor axis = 2b.  Can you finish?