Question

graph each equation.

1. $\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{y^2}{9} = 1$

Explanation:

Step1: Identify the form of the equation

The equation \(\frac{x^{2}}{4}+\frac{y^{2}}{9} = 1\) is in the standard form of an ellipse \(\frac{x^{2}}{b^{2}}+\frac{y^{2}}{a^{2}}=1\) (\(a>b>0\)), where \(a^{2}=9\), \(b^{2} = 4\). So \(a = 3\), \(b=2\).

Step2: Find the vertices and co - vertices

For the ellipse \(\frac{x^{2}}{b^{2}}+\frac{y^{2}}{a^{2}}=1\), the vertices are \((0,\pm a)\) and the co - vertices are \((\pm b,0)\).
Substituting \(a = 3\) and \(b = 2\), the vertices are \((0,3)\) and \((0, - 3)\), and the co - vertices are \((2,0)\) and \((-2,0)\).

Step3: Sketch the ellipse

Plot the vertices \((0,3)\), \((0, - 3)\) and co - vertices \((2,0)\), \((-2,0)\) on the coordinate plane. Then draw a smooth curve passing through these four points to form the ellipse.

Answer:

The ellipse has vertices \((0,3)\) and \((0, - 3)\), co - vertices \((2,0)\) and \((-2,0)\). Sketch the ellipse by connecting these four points with a smooth curve.