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#1 2005-08-08 03:42:31

ASh
Guest

coordinates of a point on an ellipse

How can I find coordinates of a point on an ellipse which is in a rectangle if all I know is the height and the width of the rectangle. The point is located approx. where 2 circles, that make up the ellipse, connect. It may be located exactly at this point, if this helpls.
Thank you.

#2 2005-08-08 17:22:11

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,954

Re: coordinates of a point on an ellipse

The equation of an ellipse is given by
x²/a² + y²/b² = 1
The height and the width of the rectangle would be 2b and 2a.
Now, from this information, get the value of ba and a.
Substitute in the equation for the ellipse.
You get the equation of the ellipse.
Thereafter, give values for x like -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 etc. and find the corresponding values of y.


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

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#3 2005-08-10 12:28:32

wcy
Member
Registered: 2005-08-04
Posts: 117

Re: coordinates of a point on an ellipse

if the ellipse is not centred at the origin, the equation becomes,

(x-p)²/a² + (y-q)²/b² = 1

where (p,q) is the centre

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#4 2005-08-11 08:20:08

Ash
Guest

Re: coordinates of a point on an ellipse

Thanks a lot

#5 2005-08-11 09:45:23

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: coordinates of a point on an ellipse

Icecream Sundaes for ganesh and wcy !2_1123796563.jpg2_1123796563.jpg


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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