Short Answer

Determining the Orientation of an Elliptical Layout

A civil engineer is programming a traffic simulation for an elliptical roundabout using the equation (xh)2a2+(yk)2b2=1\frac{(x-h)^2}{a^2} + \frac{(y-k)^2}{b^2} = 1. To correctly align the longest part of the roundabout on the simulation grid, the engineer needs to determine the orientation of the major axis. Based on the rules for graphing an ellipse, how does the engineer use the equation to determine whether the major axis is horizontal or vertical?

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Updated 2026-06-02

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