Ellipse Properties
Enter the center (h, k) and the two semi-axis lengths a (x direction) and b (y direction). The calculator detects whether the major axis is horizontal or vertical, then reports the vertices, co-vertices, foci, eccentricity and area.
Frequently asked questions
What does eccentricity mean?
A measure of how 'squished' the ellipse is: e = c/a, where c = √(a² − b²) and a is the semi-major axis. Zero means a circle; values approaching 1 mean a very elongated ellipse.
Which axis is major?
The axis with the longer semi-length. If a > b the major axis is horizontal; if b > a it is vertical. The calculator detects this automatically.
How is the area calculated?
A = π·a·b — the product of the two semi-axes times π. It generalises the πr² formula for a circle, which is the a = b case.