Question:
Find the equation of an ellipse, the lengths of whose major and mirror axes are 10 and 8 units respectively.
Solution:
Let the equation of required ellipse is
$\frac{x^{2}}{a^{2}}+\frac{y^{2}}{b^{2}}=1$ …(A)
Given:
Length of Major Axis = 10units ...(i)
We know that,
Length of major axis $=2 \mathrm{a} \ldots$ (ii)
$\therefore$ From eq. (i) and (ii), we get
2a = 10
⇒ a = 5
It is also given that
Length of Minor Axis $=8$ units ..(iii)
We know that,
Length of minor axis $=2 \mathrm{~b} \ldots$ (iv)
$\therefore$ From eq. (iii) and (iv), we get
2b = 8
⇒ b = 4
Substituting the value of a and b in eq. (A), we get
$\frac{x^{2}}{(5)^{2}}+\frac{y^{2}}{(4)^{2}}=1$
$\Rightarrow \frac{x^{2}}{25}+\frac{y^{2}}{16}=1$