Using Existing Resources

Andy Dorsett

Wolfram Research, Inc.

Using Existing Resources

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My Lesson - Ellipses

I'm teaching my Algebra 2 class about conic sections.  I would like to show some dynamic examples concerning eccentricity and some other great concepts inside this lesson as well.  However, I do not want to create my items from scratch.

We will look at Wolfram Research resources that you can use (for free!) and incorporate within my lesson.

Modifying these items to suit my own needs is easy.

Ellipses on Mathworld

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http://wolfram.mathworld.com

Search for Ellipses

Right click and copy any image to paste into a Mathematica notebook as a graphic.

Ellipses - Existing Demonstrations

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http://demonstrations.wolfram.com

Search for "ellipses."

Find "Conic Sections: Equations and Graphs."

Download Demonstration Source Code

What Mathematica command is used to make the actual ellipse?

Ellipses - Documentation Center

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Go to Help > Documentation Center

We found out that "ContourPlot" is used to make plots of functions with an x and a y.  So, let's play with this.

Search for Contour Plot.

Change parameters on any example on here you choose.

Grab the cell from one of them and put this in your notebook.  Create the graph of an ellipse from this by updating the code that is there.

Ellipses - Back to Demonstrations

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Go back to http://demonstrations.wolfram.com

Let's find a demonstration with a smaller amount of coding to update.

Ellipses and Hyperbolas with the Same Focal Points

Update this code.  Try the following

Add {u,-u} to the list of functions

Change the PlotStyle

Ellipses - Wolfram|Alpha

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Go to http://www.wolframalpha.com

Type in an ellipse, for example, 4(x^2)+9(y^2) = 36

Scroll to the bottom and click on "Live Mathematica."

Click on "Use Input"

Now, update code

Ellipses - Wolfram Archives

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http://library.wolfram.com

Search for Ellipses.