Ellipse Fun (More to Come Soon)
Intro: Why Ellipses Are Cool!
Intro: Why Ellipses Are Cool!
Ellipse Constructions and Interpretations
Ellipse Constructions and Interpretations
The Thumbtack Drawing Construction
The Thumbtack Drawing Construction
Challenge 1:
Challenge 1:
Figure out what the relationship between the length of the major axis, given by 2a, and the length of the string, L.
Figure out what the relationship between the length of the major axis, given by 2a, and the length of the string, L.
Hint:
Examine the geometry of the string in the interactive above by looking at the condition in which the red dot is at the top center point (x=0) and the condition in which the red dot is at the rightmost point (x=a).
Challenge 2:
Challenge 2:
Given the length of the string, L, and the distance between foci, given by 2c in the above diagram, find the length of semi-minor axis, b. Alternatively, given a and b, find the distance between the foci, given by 2c.
Given the length of the string, L, and the distance between foci, given by 2c in the above diagram, find the length of semi-minor axis, b. Alternatively, given a and b, find the distance between the foci, given by 2c.