Ellipse

In mathematics, an ellipse (from the Greek for absence) is a plane algebraic curve where the sum of the distances from any point on the curve to two fixed points is constant. The two fixed points are called foci (plural of focus).

Related Topics:
Mathematics - Greek - Curve - Distance - Focus

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An ellipse is a type of conic section: if a cone is cut with a plane which does not intersect the cone's base, the intersection of the cone and plane is an ellipse. For a short elementary proof of this, see Dandelin spheres.

Related Topics:
Conic section - Cone - Dandelin spheres

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Algebraically, an ellipse is a curve in the Cartesian plane defined by

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an equation of the form

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:A x^2 + B xy + C y^2 + D x + E y + F = 0

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such that B^2 < 4 AC, where all of the coefficients are real, and where more than one solution, defining a pair of points (x, y) on the ellipse, exists.

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An ellipse can be drawn with two pins, a loop of string, and a pencil. The pins are placed at the foci and the pins and pencil are enclosed inside the string. The pencil is placed on the paper inside the string, so the string is taut. The string will form a triangle. If the pencil is moved around so that the string stays taut, the sum of the distances from the pencil to the pins will remain constant, satisfying the definition of an ellipse.

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The line segment which passes through the foci and terminates on the ellipse is called the major axis. The major axis is along the longest segment that passes through the ellipse. The line which passes through the center (halfway between the foci), at right angles to the major axis, is called the minor axis. A semimajor axis is one half the major axis: the line segment from the center, through a focus, and to the edge of the ellipse. Likewise, the semiminor axis is one half the minor axis.

Related Topics:
Right angle - Semimajor axis - Line segment

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If the two foci coincide, then the ellipse is a circle; in other words, a circle is a special case of an ellipse, one where the eccentricity is zero.

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