Definition:Ellipse/Eccentricity
< Definition:Ellipse(Redirected from Definition:Eccentricity of Ellipse)
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Definition
Let $K$ be the ellipse specified as the locus of points $P$ to a straight line $D$ and a point $F$ such that $PD$ and $PF$ are related by the condition:
- $\size {PF} = e \size {PD}$
where $0 < e < 1$.
The constant $e$ is known as the eccentricity of the ellipse.
Also denoted as
Some sources use $\epsilon$ for the eccentricity of a conic section.
Also see
- Definition:Directrix of Ellipse
- Definition:Focus of Ellipse
- Definition:Focus-Directrix Property of Ellipse
- Results about the eccentricity of an ellipse can be found here.
Sources
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): conic (conic section)
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): ellipse
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): conic (conic section)
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): ellipse