In Exercises 1–18, graph each ellipse and locate the foci. x^2/16 +y^2/4 = 1
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Identify the standard form of the ellipse equation: \( \frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1 \). Here, \( a^2 = 16 \) and \( b^2 = 4 \).
Determine the values of \( a \) and \( b \) by taking the square roots: \( a = \sqrt{16} = 4 \) and \( b = \sqrt{4} = 2 \).
Since \( a > b \), the major axis is along the x-axis. The vertices are at \( (\pm a, 0) = (\pm 4, 0) \).
Calculate the distance to the foci using \( c = \sqrt{a^2 - b^2} = \sqrt{16 - 4} = \sqrt{12} = 2\sqrt{3} \).
Locate the foci along the x-axis at \( (\pm c, 0) = (\pm 2\sqrt{3}, 0) \).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Ellipse Definition
An ellipse is a set of points in a plane where the sum of the distances from two fixed points, called foci, is constant. The standard form of an ellipse's equation is (x-h)²/a² + (y-k)²/b² = 1, where (h, k) is the center, a is the semi-major axis, and b is the semi-minor axis. Understanding this definition is crucial for identifying the properties of the ellipse in the given equation.
To graph an ellipse, one must identify its center, vertices, and foci. The center is found at (h, k), while the lengths of the semi-major and semi-minor axes are determined by a and b in the standard form. For the equation x²/16 + y²/4 = 1, the semi-major axis is 4 (along the x-axis) and the semi-minor axis is 2 (along the y-axis), which guides the graphing process.
The foci of an ellipse are located along the major axis, and their distance from the center is calculated using the formula c = √(a² - b²), where c is the distance to each focus. For the given ellipse, with a² = 16 and b² = 4, we find c = √(16 - 4) = √12 = 2√3. This calculation is essential for accurately locating the foci in the graph.