Math Is Fun Forum

rp_

Member

Registered: 2006-02-10

Posts: 7

Finding a point on ellipse

Hi hoping you could help,
I have a problem that goes like this if I have a a point (2, 3) and the ellipse x²/16 + y²/9 = 1. I want to find the tagent to the ellipse that passes through the point (2, 3).

Point (2, 3) is not on the ellipse and there will be two at which it touches the ellipse.

All I would like is the quadratic equation that need to be solved to find out the points on the ellipse at which the line touches. It would be nice if I could see the equation in the quadratic  form ax² + bx + c = 0

Thanks in advance:)

Tigeree

Member

Registered: 2005-11-19

Posts: 13,883

Re: Finding a point on ellipse

sorry bro can't help ya with that 1

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rp_

Member

Registered: 2006-02-10

Posts: 7

Re: Finding a point on ellipse

thats ok I think that im nearly there x