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Problem:

Find the equation for the ellipse that has foci

$$F_1 = (0, 0)$$ $$F_2 = (1,1)$$

and eccentricity $$\varepsilon = \frac12.$$

Hint: Use a rotation that moves the foci to the x-axis.

My attempt:

I by rotating the ellipse by $-\pi/4$, the foci are both on the x-axis, with $F_2 = (\sqrt2, 0)$.

The center bisects the line segment between the foci, and is as such $(h,k) = (\sqrt2/2, 0)$. This also gives $c=\sqrt2/2$ as this is the distance between the center and each focus.

The semi-major axis is horizontal, so the $a^2$ goes beneath the $x$-term.

We know that $c = \frac\varepsilon a$, so $a = \frac\varepsilon c = \frac{1}{\sqrt2}$ and $a^2 = \frac12$.

$b^2 = a^2- c^2 = (\frac{1}{\sqrt2})^2 - (\frac{\sqrt2}{2})^2 = 0$

How do I go from here? With $b^2 = 0$, how can I place it in a denominator? Did I make a mistake somewhere?

Alec
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  • Like http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1109258/finding-the-equation-for-a-hyperbola-given-foci-and-eccentricity, the coordinates of the foci are $h\pm a\varepsilon $ – lab bhattacharjee Jan 19 '15 at 09:42

1 Answers1

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The co-ordinates of the focii are $(h\pm ae)$, so your $c$ will be $ae$ rather than $\frac{e}{a}$ and so your $a$ will be $\sqrt2$ and your $b$ will be $\sqrt\frac{3}{2}$. So the equation we have in the rotated system is:$$\frac{(x-\frac{1}{\sqrt2})^2}{2}+\frac{2y^2}{3}=1$$ Now all that remains is to somehow rotate this back into the original system.

najayaz
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  • Why could I not use $c = e/a$? Is that not correct for ellipses? – Alec Jan 19 '15 at 10:19
  • From here: http://www.purplemath.com/modules/ellipse3.htm

    Bottom problem states $e = c/a$ which I rearranged for $a$. Am I missing something?

     – Alec Jan 19 '15 at 10:44
  • Oh wow, when I wrote it, I wrote it as $c = e/a$, then rearranged. – Alec Jan 19 '15 at 10:49