Ellipse

DEFINITION

A plane curve, especially either a conic section whose plane is not parallel to the axis, base, or generatrix of the intersected cone, or the locus of points for which the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is equal. Note the similarity and difference between a circle and an ellipse.(pr. ə-LIPS)how to draw an ellipseHow to draw an ellipse: Place a focus in each of two locations by holding down the ends of a string in two places (a + b). Place a drawing tool against the string in order to stretch it as the red line is in this diagram. Draw the curve made by keeping the string taut ftom left to right extremes both above and below the horizon made by a straight line through a and b.Related links: A diagram of conic sections including a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, and a hyperbola. Also see arc, cone, cylinder, ellipsis (from which ellipse is derived), hyperbola, oval, ovoid, parabola, shape, and sphere.