Thread: Proof of an ellipse

The question I am stuck on is (iii):

This part concerns the conic with equation


(i) By rearranging the equation of the conic, classify it as an ellipse, parabola or hyperbola in standard position, and sketch the curve.

I have re-arranged the equation and discovered it is an ellipse in standard position:

a=5, b=
The points of the ellipse are (-5,0), (0, ), (5,0) and (0, )

(ii) Find exact values for the eccentricity, foci and directrices of this conic, and mark the foci and directrices on your sketch.

eccentricity (e) = =
foci = +-ae = and
directrices = +-a/e =

(iii) Check your answers to part (a)(ii) by verifying that the equation PF = ePd holds at each of the two points P where the conic intersects the x-axis, where F is the focus with negative x-coordinate, d is the corresponding directrix and e is the eccentricity.

point, P where the conic intersect the x-axis ... etc. (-5,0)
focus with negative x co-ordinate =
corresponding directrix =
eccentricity =

I know that PF = a-ae =
and ePd = e(a-ae)/e =
=

so PF = ePd, but I'm not sure what they mean when they say the two points, P where the conic intersects the x-axis ... etc.

I hope what I have done so far is correct? Thanks again for your help. It is most appreciated

Originally Posted by cozza

The question I am stuck on is (iii):

This part concerns the conic with equation


(i) By rearranging the equation of the conic, classify it as an ellipse, parabola or hyperbola in standard position, and sketch the curve.

I have re-arranged the equation and discovered it is an ellipse in standard position:

a=5, b=
The points of the ellipse are (-5,0), (0, ), (5,0) and (0, )


Surely you meant "the points where the ellipse meets the axis are..."

(ii) Find exact values for the eccentricity, foci and directrices of this conic, and mark the foci and directrices on your sketch.

eccentricity (e) = =
foci = +-ae = and
directrices = +-a/e =

(iii) Check your answers to part (a)(ii) by verifying that the equation PF = ePd holds at each of the two points P where the conic intersects the x-axis, where F is the focus with negative x-coordinate, d is the corresponding directrix and e is the eccentricity.

point, P where the conic intersect the x-axis ... etc. (-5,0)
focus with negative x co-ordinate =
corresponding directrix =
eccentricity =

I know that PF = a-ae =
and ePd = e(a-ae)/e =
=

so PF = ePd, but I'm not sure what they mean when they say the two points, P where the conic intersects the x-axis ... etc.


Any function intersects the x-axis when y=0, and the y-axis when x=0...

Tonio

I hope what I have done so far is correct? Thanks again for your help. It is most appreciated

.

so PF = ePd, but I'm not sure what they mean when they say the two points, P where the conic intersects the x-axis ... etc.

The other point of intersection is (5, 0).
For this point, distances to the directrix with negative x co-ordinate is PF = (a + ae) , and PD is (2a + a/e)

Originally Posted by sa-ri-ga-ma

so PF = ePd, but I'm not sure what they mean when they say the two points, P where the conic intersects the x-axis ... etc.

Originally Posted by sa-ri-ga-ma

The other point of intersection is (5, 0).
For this point, PF = (a + ae) , and PD is (2a + a/e)

Thank you for the quick reply. I understand that the other point of intersection is (5,0), but the question specifically says:

Check your answers to part (a)(ii) by verifying that the equation PF = ePd holds at each of the two points P where the conic intersects the x-axis, where F is the focus with negative x-coordinate, d is the corresponding directrix and e is the eccentricity.

Surely there is only one point where the conic intersects the x-axis, where F is the focus with negative x-coordinate, d is the corresponding directrix and e is the eccentricity?

Am I missing something here? At the point (5,0) the f has a positive x-coordinate, as does the corresponding directrix, doesn't it?

Thanks again

At the point (5,0) the f has a positive x-coordinate, as does the corresponding directrix, doesn't it?

Here you have to take the distance of the point P (5,0) from negative focus and the corresponding diretrix. Then prove the relation PF = e*PD.