Ellipse (Graph & Equation Anatomy)
Move the various sliders in this applet around to investigate what happens to the graph of an ellipse as you change various parameters within the standard form of its equation.
Key questions:
Is it ever possible for the graph of an ellipse to become a circle? If so, under what condition(s) will this happen?
Is it possible to tell the location of an ellipse's center just by looking at its equation? If so, how?
How can the length of an ellipse's semimajor & semiminor axes be determined just by looking at its equation?
What must happen to ensure that the graph's major axis is horizontal? Vertical?
What must happen to ensure that the graph's minor axis is horizontal? Vertical?
Questions are located above the applet.