Example

Example: Graphing an Ellipse with Center (0,0)(0, 0)

To graph the equation x24+y29=1\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{y^2}{9} = 1, first confirm it is in the standard form of an ellipse centered at (0,0)(0, 0). Next, determine the orientation of the major axis. Since 9>49 > 4 and 99 is the denominator of the y2y^2 term, the major axis is vertical. To find the endpoints of the major axis (the yy-intercepts), set b2=9b^2 = 9, which yields b=±3b = \pm 3, resulting in the points (0,3)(0, 3) and (0,3)(0, -3). To find the endpoints of the minor axis (the xx-intercepts), set a2=4a^2 = 4, which gives a=±2a = \pm 2, resulting in the points (2,0)(2, 0) and (2,0)(-2, 0). Finally, sketch the ellipse by plotting these four intercepts and drawing a smooth curve through them.

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Updated 2026-05-26

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