Focal Definition of Ellipse

The applet below illustrates the focal property of the ellipse: given two points F and F' (called the foci of the ellipse), ellipse is the locus of points P the sum of whose distances to the foci is constant: PF + PF' = const. This property is often taken for a definition of ellipse. (A different demonstration can be found elsewhere.)

Conic Sections > Ellipse

• What Is Ellipse?
  
• Analog device simulation for drawing ellipses
• Angle Bisectors in Ellipse
• Angle Bisectors in Ellipse II
• Between Major and Minor Circles
• Brianchon in Ellipse
• Butterflies in Ellipse
• Conjugate Diameters in Ellipse
• Dynamic construction of ellipse and other curves
• Ellipse in Arbelos
• Ellipse Between Two Circles
• Euclidean Construction of Center of Ellipse
• Euclidean Construction of Tangent to Ellipse
• Focal Definition of Ellipse
• Focus and Directrix of Ellipse
• From Foci to a Tangent in Ellipse
• Gergonne in Ellipse
• Pascal in Ellipse
• La Hire's Theorem in Ellipse
• Optical Property of Ellipse
• Parallel Chords in Ellipse
• Poncelet Porism in Ellipses
• Reflections in Ellipse
• Three Squares and Two Ellipses
• Three Tangents, Three Chords in Ellipse