An ellipse has a center at the origin, a vertex along the major axis at (0, 17), and a focus at (0, −8). Which equation represents this ellipse?
Accepted Solution
A:
we know that Since the focus and vertex are above and below each other, rather than side by side, I know that this ellipse must be taller than it is wide. Then a² will go with the y part of the equation Also, since the focus is 8 units below the center, then c = 8 since the vertex is 17 units above, then a = 17 The equation b² = a² – c² gives me b²=17²-8²-----> b²=225 the equation is y²/a²+x²/b²=1------> y²/289+x²/225=1