Free, step-by-step Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions for Chapter 10 Ex 10.3 — all 20 questions solved, covering the Ellipse: reading off the foci, vertices, axis lengths, eccentricity and latus rectum from an equation, and finding the equation of an ellipse from various geometric conditions.
Every ellipse question in this exercise rests on identifying which denominator in \dfrac{x^2}{A}+\dfrac{y^2}{B}=1 is larger — that larger value is a^2, and it tells you the major axis lies along whichever axis its variable belongs to. Once a and b are identified, c=\sqrt{a^2-b^2} gives the foci, and the eccentricity and latus rectum follow directly. Questions 10 onward reverse the process, building the equation from vertices, foci, axis lengths, or points the ellipse passes through.
Since 36>16, the major axis is along the x-axis. Comparing with \dfrac{x^2}{a^2}+\dfrac{y^2}{b^2}=1: a=6,\ b=4.
c=\sqrt{a^2-b^2}=\sqrt{36-16}=\sqrt{20}=2\sqrt5
Since 25>4, the major axis is along the y-axis. Comparing with \dfrac{x^2}{b^2}+\dfrac{y^2}{a^2}=1: a=5,\ b=2.
c=\sqrt{a^2-b^2}=\sqrt{25-4}=\sqrt{21}
Since 16>9, the major axis is along the x-axis. Here a=4,\ b=3.
c=\sqrt{16-9}=\sqrt7
Since 100>25, the major axis is along the y-axis. Here a=10,\ b=5.
c=\sqrt{100-25}=\sqrt{75}=5\sqrt3
Since 49>36, the major axis is along the x-axis. Here a=7,\ b=6.
c=\sqrt{49-36}=\sqrt{13}
Since 400>100, the major axis is along the y-axis. Here a=20,\ b=10.
c=\sqrt{400-100}=\sqrt{300}=10\sqrt3
Dividing throughout by 144 to reach standard form:
\dfrac{x^2}{4}+\dfrac{y^2}{36}=1
Since 36>4, the major axis is along the y-axis. Here a=6,\ b=2.
c=\sqrt{36-4}=\sqrt{32}=4\sqrt2
Dividing throughout by 16 to reach standard form:
\dfrac{x^2}{1}+\dfrac{y^2}{16}=1
Since 16>1, the major axis is along the y-axis. Here a=4,\ b=1.
c=\sqrt{16-1}=\sqrt{15}
Dividing throughout by 36 to reach standard form:
\dfrac{x^2}{9}+\dfrac{y^2}{4}=1
Since 9>4, the major axis is along the x-axis. Here a=3,\ b=2.
c=\sqrt{9-4}=\sqrt5
Since the vertices and foci lie on the x-axis: a=5,\ c=4.
b^2=a^2-c^2=25-16=9
Since the vertices and foci lie on the y-axis: a=13,\ c=5.
b^2=a^2-c^2=169-25=144
Here a=6,\ c=4.
b^2=a^2-c^2=36-16=20
The major axis lies on the x-axis, giving a=3; the minor axis gives b=2.
The major axis lies on the y-axis, giving a=\sqrt5; the minor axis gives b=1.
The major axis has length 2a=26 \ \Rightarrow\ a=13. The foci give c=5.
b^2=a^2-c^2=169-25=144
The minor axis has length 2b=16 \ \Rightarrow\ b=8. The foci lie on the y-axis, giving c=6.
a^2=b^2+c^2=64+36=100
Here c=3,\ a=4.
b^2=a^2-c^2=16-9=7
Using a^2=b^2+c^2:
a^2=9+16=25
With the major axis on the y-axis, the equation has the form \dfrac{x^2}{b^2}+\dfrac{y^2}{a^2}=1.
Substituting (3,2):
\dfrac{9}{b^2}+\dfrac{4}{a^2}=1 \qquad\ldots(1)
Substituting (1,6):
\dfrac{1}{b^2}+\dfrac{36}{a^2}=1 \qquad\ldots(2)
Let u=\dfrac{1}{b^2} and v=\dfrac{1}{a^2}. Then (1) and (2) become:
9u+4v=1 \qquad\ldots(1')
u+36v=1 \qquad\ldots(2')
From (2'): u=1-36v. Substituting into (1'):
9(1-36v)+4v=1 \ \Rightarrow\ 9-324v+4v=1 \ \Rightarrow\ -320v=-8 \ \Rightarrow\ v=\dfrac{1}{40}
Then u=1-36\left(\dfrac{1}{40}\right)=1-\dfrac{9}{10}=\dfrac{1}{10}. So a^2=\dfrac{1}{v}=40 and b^2=\dfrac{1}{u}=10.
With the major axis on the x-axis, the equation has the form \dfrac{x^2}{a^2}+\dfrac{y^2}{b^2}=1.
Substituting (4,3):
\dfrac{16}{a^2}+\dfrac{9}{b^2}=1 \qquad\ldots(1)
Substituting (6,2):
\dfrac{36}{a^2}+\dfrac{4}{b^2}=1 \qquad\ldots(2)
Let u=\dfrac{1}{a^2} and v=\dfrac{1}{b^2}. Then (1) and (2) become:
16u+9v=1 \qquad\ldots(1')
36u+4v=1 \qquad\ldots(2')
Multiplying (1') by 4 and (2') by 9, then subtracting to eliminate v:
64u+36v=4 \qquad 324u+36v=9
260u=5 \ \Rightarrow\ u=\dfrac{1}{52}
Substituting back into (1'): 16\left(\dfrac{1}{52}\right)+9v=1 \ \Rightarrow\ \dfrac{4}{13}+9v=1 \ \Rightarrow\ 9v=\dfrac{9}{13} \ \Rightarrow\ v=\dfrac{1}{13}.
So a^2=\dfrac{1}{u}=52 and b^2=\dfrac{1}{v}=13.
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