Equations of ellipses and hyperbolas worksheet for Precalculus
Precalculus asks you to build these equations from parts: a center and a vertex with the length b, or, for some ellipses, a co-vertex with the length a. Read the distance from the center to the given point and use its direction to decide which axis is the long one, then remember that an ellipse adds the two terms while a hyperbola subtracts the second.
Also taught in Algebra 2, at its own level and with its own examples.
Not quite the one you need? Same words, different skill:
- Standard Form of a Line (Algebra 1). Ax + By = C, with A positive and whole.
- Graphing Lines: Standard Form (Algebra 1). Ax + By = C: rearrange it, or find both intercepts.
- Writing Linear Equations (Algebra 1). Slope-intercept, point-slope and standard form.
- Vertex Form of a Parabola (Algebra 1). y = a(x - h)² + k, both directions.
- Equations of Circles (Precalculus). Center and radius, both directions.
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Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep
Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Ellipses and Hyperbolas Date Period Give each equation in standard form.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Ellipses and HyperbolasAnswer keyVersion 2 Date Period Give each equation in standard form.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
How to do these
Write the equation of the hyperbola with center , a vertex at and
- The vertex is 4 to the right of the center, so a = 4 and the x term comes first.
- a² = 16 and b² = 9.
- A hyperbola subtracts the second term.
The answer is .
Where students go wrong
Putting a² under x when the vertices are stacked vertically. Vertices one above the other mean the main axis is vertical, so a² belongs under the (y - k)² term.
Also called conic equations.
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 →
- Write the equation of a hyperbola
- Write the equation of the hyperbola with center , , and a vertical transverse axis →
- An ellipse from its vertices and foci
- Write the equation of the ellipse with vertices and and foci and →
- A hyperbola from its vertices and foci
- Write the equation of the hyperbola with vertices and and foci and →