Question

Give the property that defines all ellipses.

Short answer

Answer: The defining property of an ellipse is the sum of the distances from its two foci to any point on the ellipse remaining constant. Mathematically, it can be represented as: for any point P(x, y) on the ellipse, PF1 + PF2 = constant, where F1 and F2 are the foci.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Ellipse

An ellipse is a two-dimensional shape defined by the set of all points in the plane, such that the sum of the distances from the foci (two fixed points) to any point on the ellipse is constant.

The Defining Property of an Ellipse

The property that defines all ellipses is the sum of the distances from the foci to any point on the ellipse remaining constant. Mathematically, it can be written as: for any point P(x, y) on the ellipse, PF1 + PF2 = constant, where F1 and F2 are the foci.

Understanding the Defining Property

When you draw an ellipse with a string, you would fix two pins on the paper (representing the foci) and loop a string around them. Then, use a pen to create the ellipse, while keeping the string taut. Due to the geometric constraints of this process, the sum of the distances from the foci to any point on the ellipse will always remain constant.

Key concepts

Foci

The foci (singular is focus) are crucial when talking about ellipses. There are two points in an ellipse known as the foci, labeled as \( F_1 \) and \( F_2 \). These points help in defining an ellipse. Imagine two tacks fixed on a board as foci. Each point on the perimeter of the ellipse has a specific property related to these foci — the sum of the distances to each focus is always consistent. This neat symmetry creates the elegant shape of the ellipse.

• Foci are to an ellipse what a center is to a circle.
• The distance between the foci impacts the shape of the ellipse — closer foci give a rounder shape, and further apart foci elongate the shape.

An easy way to visualize the foci in action is through the "string and pins" method. By placing two pins in a board and looping a string around them, an ellipse is drawn as you pull the string taut around the pins. This simulates how the foci work.

Geometric Properties

Ellipses are defined by certain unique geometric properties. One such property is that an ellipse is symmetric along both of its axes — the major axis and the minor axis. The major axis is the longest diameter that runs through the center and both foci, whereas the minor axis is the shortest diameter. The intersection of these two axes is the ellipse's center. Each point on an ellipse satisfies not only the foci-distance rule but is equidistant from the center when measured parallelly. Here are some important geometric properties to note:

• Axes of Symmetry: Ellipses have two axes of symmetry—reflecting over these lines doesn't change the shape.
• Vertices: Points where the ellipse meets the axes are known as vertices. There are two vertices on the major axis and two marks for the endpoints on the minor axis.
• Eccentricity: A measure of how an ellipse resembles a circle. An ellipse with little separation between the foci is more circular in appearance.

Understanding these geometric characteristics helps in visualizing how the ellipse interacts with its space and aids in solving related problems effectively.

Distance Formula

The distance formula is pivotal in understanding the defining property of an ellipse. For any point \( P(x, y) \) on the ellipse, the sum of the distances from \( P \) to each focus \((F_1, F_2) \) is constant. Mathematically, this can be expressed as \( PF_1 + PF_2 = \text{{constant}} \). To use the distance formula, you need to calculate the distance from a point to each of the foci.The standard distance formula used for this is:\[D = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}\]This formula calculates the Euclidean distance between two points, \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\), in the Cartesian plane.- When applied to an ellipse, ensure correct substitution for the points where \( x \) and \( y \) are coordinates of the point \( P \) on the ellipse.Moreover, keeping the sum constant during this calculation confirms the elliptical path your point \( P(x, y) \) travels. Using the distance formula in tandem with the foci's properties helps clearly define and solve problems involving ellipses.