CoreConics
Ellipse
x²/a² + y²/b² = 1
Overview
An ellipse is the set of points where the sum of distances to two foci is constant.
Domain
[-a, a]
Range
[-b, b]
Key Properties
1
a = semi-major axis, b = semi-minor axis
2
Foci at (±c, 0) where c² = a² − b²
3
Sum of distances to foci = 2a
4
Circle is a special case (a = b)
Key Insight
Planets orbit in ellipses with the Sun at one focus — Kepler's First Law!
Visualize Ellipse
Interact with the graph and explore this curve in the analytic geometry visualizer.