Ellipses

x^2/36 + y^2=1
1. x=major
2.y=minor
3.square root of 36= +or -6 (6,0) (-6,0)
4.square root of 16= +or -4 (0,4) (0,-4)
5.2 square root of 36=12
6.2 square root of 16=8
7.focus    16=36-f^2
                f=square root of 20

The first thing to do when solving an ellipse, is putting the equation given in standard form.  Standard form for an ellipse is x^2 over a^2 plus y^2 over b^2 is equal to 1.  The next step is to identify your major axis.  Your major axis is the variable with the largest denominator.  In this problem, the major axis is x.  Next, you identify your minor axis.  The minor axis is the variable with the smallest axis.  In this problem, the minor axis is y.  Then, you identify the vertex of the larger denominator.  To find the vertex of the larger denominator, you find the square root of the number given.  In this case you find the square root of 36 which is plus or minus 6.  Then you put plus or minus 6 in point form, if the major axis is x then your answer goes in the x spot.  In step four, you find the other intercept by square rooting the smaller denominator.  You get plus or minus 4 and put that answer in point form also.  Next, step five, to find the length of the major axis you get the square root of 36 and then multiply that answer by 2.  In step six, to find the length of the minor axis you get the square root of 16 and then multiply that answer by 2 also.  The last step is to find your focus.  To find the focus, you use the equation smallest denominator=largest denominator-focus^2 or int.^2=vertex^2-focus^2.  I used the first equation and did 16=36-focus^2 and got the square root of 20.