length of axis of ellipse: 3x^2 + 4y^2 = 12

[lorimel333]

3x(to the second power) + 4y(to the second power)= 12

 

[galactus]

Divide through by 12 and get:

\(\displaystyle \L\\\frac{x^{2}}{4}+\frac{y^{2}}{3}=1\)

Now, finish?.

 

[lorimel333]

so does that mean...

then the major axis would be 4 right?

 

[galactus]

Here's your ellipse. What do you think?.

 

[TchrWill]

Re: so does that mean...

then the major axis would be 4 right?

The equation for an ellise is x^2/a^2 + y^2/b^2 = 1 where a and b are the semi-major and semi-minor axes respectively.

 

[lorimel333]

so then the major axis is actually 2

 

[TchrWill]

so then the major axis is actually 2?

If a^2 = 4, then a = 2 and the major axis has length 2a = 4.