Equations of ellipses worksheet for Precalculus
Precalculus builds the ellipse from its parts. Each question gives the vertices and foci, or the center with a vertex or co-vertex and the other axis length. Before writing anything, decide whether the long axis is horizontal or vertical, because that decides which squared term gets a². When foci are given, use c² = a² - b².
Also taught in Algebra 2, at its own level and with its own examples.
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Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Equations of Ellipses Date Period Write each equation.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Equations of EllipsesAnswer keyVersion 2 Date Period Write each equation.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
How to do these
Write the equation of the ellipse with vertices and and foci and
- The center is the midpoint, (2, 1). The vertices are 5 above and below it, so a = 5 and the long axis is vertical.
- The foci are 4 away, so c = 4 and b² = 25 - 16 = 9.
The answer is .
Where students go wrong
Using c² = a² + b² as for a hyperbola. In an ellipse the foci sit inside, so c is smaller than a and b² = a² - c².
Also called standard form of an ellipse or ellipse equation.
What you can put on this worksheet
- Write the equation of an ellipse
- Write the equation of the ellipse with center , , and a vertical major axis →
- An ellipse from its vertices and foci
- Write the equation of the ellipse with vertices and and foci and →
- From foci, axis lengths, eccentricity or a graph
- Write the equation of the ellipse with major axis from to and minor axis from to →
- Foci and co-vertices, a half-integer center
- Write the equation of the ellipse with foci and and co-vertices and →