Q.Find the equation for the ellipse that satisfies the given conditions: Centre at (0,0), major axis on the y-axis and passes through the points (3,2) and (1,6).
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Ellipse
The standard ellipse a2x2+b2y2=1 (with a>b) has centre at
the origin, major axis 2a, minor axis 2b, and eccentricity e given by
b2=a2(1−e2). Its foci are (±ae,0), directrices x=±ea, and the
latus rectum has length a2b2. Every point satisfies the focal-distance
property SP+S′P=2a.
The line y=mx+c is a tangent iff c2=a2m2+b2, so tangents of a given slope
are y=mx±a2m2+b2; the tangent at (acosθ,bsinθ) is
axcosθ+bysinθ=1. The position of a point
(x1,y1) is decided by the sign of S1=a2x12+b2y12−1
(inside if <0). Shifting the centre to (h,k) replaces x,y by x−h,y−k. These …
Concept: Locus of Point — The ellipse is defined by its standard equation, and the given points must satisfy it.
Since the major axis is on the y-axis and centre is at (0,0), the standard form is:
b2x2+a2y2=1,a>b>0
Substitute (3,2):
b29+a24=1
Substitute (1,6):
b21+a236=1
Solve these two equations. Multiply the second by 9 and subtract from the first:
(b29+a24)−(b29+a2324)=1−9 …
The ellipse is vertical (major axis along the y-axis), so its equation is b2x2+a2y2=1 with a>b. Substituting the given points gives two equations; solving them yields a2=40 and b2=10. The required equation is 10x2+40y2=1.
The key idea: when the major axis lies on the y-axis, the ellipse is "taller" than it is wide. That means the larger denominator goes under y2, not x2. Many students instinctively put the larger number under x2 because they're used to horizontal ellipses — that's the classic trap here.
So we start with the standard form for a vertical ellipse centered at the origin:
b2x2+a2y2=1,a>b>0
Here a is the semi-major axis (vertical), b is the semi-minor axis (horizontal). We don't know a2 or b2 yet — but we have two points the ellipse passes through. Each point gives us one equation.
- Substitute (3,2) into the equation:
b232+a222=1⇒b29+a24=1
- Substitute (1,6) into the equation:
b212+a262=1⇒b21+a236=1
Now we have two equations in the unknowns b21 and a21. Let’s set:
u=b21,v=a21
Then the system becomes:
9u+4v=1(Equation 1)
u+36v=1(Equation 2)
- Solve for u and v. From Equation 2: u=1−36v. Substitute into Equation 1:
9(1−36v)+4v=1
9−324v+4v=1
9−320v=1
−320v=−8⇒v=3208=401
So a2=v1=40.
- Find u: u=1−36⋅401=1−4036=1−109=101. …
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-A1 markMCQQ.If the two ends of the major axis of an ellipse are (5,0) and (−5,0) and one focus lies on the line 3x−5y−9=0, then its equation is (A) 16x2+25y2=1 (B) 25x2+34y2=1 (C) 25x2+16y2=1 (D) 25x2+9y2=1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The major axis endpoints give the center and semi-major axis length; the focus lies on a given line, so we find the focus coordinates and then the semi-minor axis. The ellipse equation is 25x2+16y2=1, which corresponds to option (C).
The key idea: The endpoints of the major axis tell us the ellipse is centered at the origin with its major axis along the x-axis, and the distance from the center to each endpoint is the semi-major axis length a. A focus lies on a given line, so we can find its coordinates using the fact that the foci are on the major axis (the x-axis). Then we use the relationship c2=a2−b2 to find b, the semi-minor axis length.
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Identify the center and a.
The endpoints of the major axis are (5,0) and (−5,0). The midpoint is the center: (0,0). The distance from the center to either endpoint is a=5. So the ellipse is of the form a2x2+b2y2=1 with a=5, i.e., 25x2+b2y2=1.
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Locate the focus.
The foci lie on the major axis (the x-axis), so each focus has coordinates (±c,0) where c>0 and c2=a2−b2. One focus lies on the line 3x−5y−9=0. Since the focus is on the x-axis, y=0. Substituting y=0 into the line equation gives 3x−9=0, so x=3. Thus one focus is at (3,0). (The other focus would be at (−3,0), but we only need c=3.)
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Find b using c2=a2−b2. …
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- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-M1 markMCQQ.The length of the latus rectum of the curve represented by x=3(cost+sint) and y=4(cost−sint) is: (A) 3322 (B) 92 (C) 29 (D) 29
›Reveal solutionSolution
Eliminating t gives the ellipse 18x2+32y2=1; its latus rectum a2b2=29.
Eliminate the parameter. From x=3(cost+sint) and y=4(cost−sint),
3x=cost+sint,4y=cost−sint.
Squaring and adding, the cross terms cancel:
(3x)2+(4y)2=(cost+sint)2+(cost−sint)2=2.
Write in standard form.
9x2+16y2=2 ⟹ 18x2+32y2=1. …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-E1 markMCQQ.If the foci of the ellipse 16x2+b2y2=1 and the foci of the hyperbola 144x2−81y2=251 coincide, then the value of b2 is (A) 5 (B) 9 (C) 1 (D) 7
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that the foci of both conics must have the same coordinates; we compute the foci of the hyperbola, equate them to the foci of the ellipse, and solve for b2. The result is b2=7.
We are given an ellipse and a hyperbola whose foci coincide. That means the two focal points (one on each side of the origin) are the same for both curves. Since both are centered at the origin and symmetric about both axes, their foci lie on the x‑axis. So we just need to find the x‑coordinate of the foci for each and set them equal.
- Find the foci of the hyperbola The hyperbola is
144x2−81y2=251.
Multiply through by 25 to get standard form:
144/25x2−81/25y2=1.
So ah2=25144 and bh2=2581. For a hyperbola of the form a2x2−b2y2=1, the distance from the center to each focus is ch=ah2+bh2.
ch=25144+2581=25225=9=3.
Hence the foci of the hyperbola are at (±3,0).
- Find the foci of the ellipse The ellipse is
16x2+b2y2=1.
Here ae2=16 (since the larger denominator is under x2, the major axis is horizontal). For an ellipse, the distance from the center to each focus is ce=ae2−be2, provided ae2>be2.
ce=16−b2.
So the foci of the ellipse are at (±16−b2,0).
- Set the foci equal …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-M1 markMCQQ.If the distance between the foci is equal to the length of the latus rectum, then the eccentricity of the ellipse is (A) 25+1 (B) 21−5 (C) 25−1 (D) 21±5
›Reveal solutionSolution
The condition “distance between foci = length of latus rectum” gives an equation in eccentricity e. Solving it yields e=25−1, which matches option (C).
The key idea is to translate the geometric condition into algebra using standard ellipse parameters. For an ellipse a2x2+b2y2=1 with a>b>0, the distance between the foci is 2ae, and the length of the latus rectum is a2b2. Setting them equal gives a relation between a and e, which simplifies to a quadratic in e.
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Recall the standard ellipse parameters
For an ellipse centered at the origin with semi-major axis a and semi-minor axis b, the eccentricity e satisfies b2=a2(1−e2). The foci are at (±ae,0), so the distance between them is 2ae. The latus rectum (a chord through a focus perpendicular to the major axis) has length a2b2.
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Set the condition
The problem states:
Distance between foci=Length of latus rectum
So:
2ae=a2b2
Cancel the factor 2 (assuming a>0):
ae=ab2
- Substitute b2 in terms of a and e Using b2=a2(1−e2), we get:
ae=aa2(1−e2)=a(1−e2)
Cancel a (again a>0):
e=1−e2
- Solve the quadratic Rearranging:
e2+e−1=0
The quadratic formula gives:
e=2−1±1+4=2−1±5 …
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- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.If an ellipse has an equation in the standard form and it passes through the points (25,46) and (−2,515) then the length of its latus rectum is (A) 101 (B) 101 (C) 510 (D) 510
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to assume the standard ellipse equation a2x2+b2y2=1, substitute the two given points to solve for a2 and b2, then compute the latus rectum length 2b2/a (if a>b) or 2a2/b (if b>a). The result is 510, which corresponds to option (D).
We are told the ellipse is in standard form, meaning its axes are aligned with the coordinate axes and its center is at the origin. The general equation is:
a2x2+b2y2=1
where a is the semi-major axis and b the semi-minor axis. The latus rectum length depends on which axis is longer. For an ellipse with a>b, the latus rectum is a2b2; if b>a, it is b2a2. We’ll determine which case holds after finding a2 and b2.
1. Substitute the first point (25,46):
a2(5/2)2+b2(6/4)2=1
a225/4+b26/16=1
4a225+8b23=1(since 6/16=3/8)
Multiply through by 8a2b2 to clear denominators:
25⋅2b2+3a2=8a2b2
50b2+3a2=8a2b2(Equation 1)
2. Substitute the second point (−2,515):
a2(−2)2+b2(15/5)2=1
a24+b215/25=1
a24+5b23=1(since 15/25=3/5)
Multiply through by 5a2b2:
4⋅5b2+3a2=5a2b2
20b2+3a2=5a2b2(Equation 2)
3. Solve the system
We have:
{50b2+3a2=8a2b2(1)20b2+3a2=5a2b2(2)
Subtract (2) from (1):
(50b2−20b2)+(3a2−3a2)=8a2b2−5a2b2
30b2=3a2b2
Assuming b=0, divide both sides by 3b2:
10=a2
So a2=10.
4. Find b2 …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-M1 markMCQQ.The equation of an ellipse, whose focus is (1,0), directrix is x=4 and whose eccentricity is a root of the quadratic equation 2x2−3x+1=0, is (A) 4x2+3y2=1 (B) 3x2+4y2=1 (C) 2x2+3y2=1 (D) 3x2+8y2=1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The eccentricity is the smaller root of 2x2−3x+1=0, i.e. e=1/2; using the focus–directrix definition of an ellipse, we derive the equation and find it matches option (A).
We start with the definition: an ellipse is the set of points whose distance from a fixed point (focus) is a constant fraction e (eccentricity) of its perpendicular distance to a fixed line (directrix). Here focus F=(1,0), directrix x=4, and e is a root of 2x2−3x+1=0.
1. Find the eccentricity.
Solve 2x2−3x+1=0. Factoring: (2x−1)(x−1)=0, so roots are x=1 and x=1/2. For an ellipse, 0<e<1, so we take e=1/2. (The root e=1 would give a parabola, not an ellipse.)
2. Set up the focus–directrix condition.
Let P=(x,y) be any point on the ellipse. Distance to focus: (x−1)2+y2.
Distance to directrix x=4: ∣x−4∣ (perpendicular distance).
The definition says:
(x−1)2+y2=e⋅∣x−4∣.
With e=1/2:
(x−1)2+y2=21∣x−4∣.
3. Square both sides (both sides non-negative).
(x−1)2+y2=41(x−4)2.
Multiply through by 4:
4(x−1)2+4y2=(x−4)2.
4. Expand and simplify.
Left: 4(x2−2x+1)+4y2=4x2−8x+4+4y2.
Right: x2−8x+16.
Equate:
4x2−8x+4+4y2=x2−8x+16.
Cancel −8x on both sides:
4x2+4+4y2=x2+16.
Bring terms:
4x2−x2+4y2=16−4⇒3x2+4y2=12.… - COMEDK 2023Set 2023-E1 markMCQQ.If the length of the major axis of an ellipse is 3 times the length of the minor axis, then its eccentricity is (A) 21 (B) 322 (C) 32 (D) 31
›Reveal solutionSolution
From 2a=3(2b) we get a=3b, and e=1−a2b2=1−91=322.
Let the semi-axes be a (major) and b (minor). The condition on lengths gives
2a=3(2b) ⇒ a=3b.
Eccentricity: …
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.The sum of the distances of any point on the curve 3x2+4y2=24 from its focii is (A) 22 (B) 216 (C) 16 (D) 42
›Reveal solutionSolution
The sum of focal distances is 2a=42.
Divide by 24: 8x2+6y2=1, an ellipse with a2=8>b2=6, so a=22. By the defining property of an ellipse, the sum of distances from any point to t …
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