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    How would one best describe an ellipse?

    Question #62330. Asked by minuscule_. (Feb 06 06 8:32 PM)


    smeogalla

    		a regular oval resulting when a cone is cut obliquely by a plane. from the greek elleipsis- deficit

    Feb 06 06, 11:03 PM
    romeomikegolf

    		a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it; "the sums of the distances from the foci to any point on an ellipse is constant" [syn: oval]

    Or, in plain english, the shape of a rugby ball.

    Feb 06 06, 11:06 PM
    gmackematix

    		Well, a cross-section of a rugby ball.
    It can best be described with two pins and a loop of string.
    Or a pair of compasses and a piece of paper wrapped around a cylinder.
    Or with a computer and the formula y = b^2.sq rt (1 - x/(a^2)) where a and b are the major and minor axes of the ellipse.

    Feb 07 06, 1:30 AM
    gmackematix

    		Even more simple methods include using an elliptical stencil, clicking the circles button in a MS Office program and dragging the mouse or finally, doing nothing and letting your planet describe an ellipse for you.

    Feb 07 06, 12:43 PM

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