Skip to main content

Ellipses: Standard Form definitions Flashcards

Ellipses: Standard Form definitions
Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/15
  • Ellipse

    A conic section formed by slicing a cone at an angle, resulting in a closed, oval shape defined by two axes of different lengths.
  • Conic Section

    A curve obtained by intersecting a cone with a plane, producing shapes like circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas.
  • Semi-Major Axis

    The longest radius of an ellipse, extending from the center to the furthest point on the curve.
  • Semi-Minor Axis

    The shortest radius of an ellipse, extending from the center to the closest point on the curve.
  • Horizontal Ellipse

    An ellipse oriented so its major axis runs left to right, with the larger denominator under the x-term in its equation.
  • Vertical Ellipse

    An ellipse oriented so its major axis runs up and down, with the larger denominator under the y-term in its equation.
  • Standard Form

    An equation format for ellipses showing squared terms of x and y divided by squared axes lengths, set equal to one.
  • Center

    The midpoint of an ellipse, located at (h, k) in the shifted standard form equation.
  • Vertex

    A point on the ellipse located at the ends of the major axis, representing the maximum distance from the center.
  • Focus

    One of two fixed points inside an ellipse where the sum of distances to any point on the curve remains constant.
  • Major Axis

    The longest line segment passing through the center and both vertices of an ellipse.
  • Minor Axis

    The shortest line segment passing through the center and both endpoints perpendicular to the major axis.
  • Denominator

    The squared value under each variable in the standard form equation, representing the square of the axis length.
  • Distance c

    The value found using c² = a² - b², representing the distance from the center to each focus along the major axis.
  • Function Transformation

    A shift or change in the graph of an equation, such as moving the center of an ellipse from the origin to (h, k).