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jmc

algebra senior

Problem

A famous theorem states that given any five points in the plane, with no three on the same line, there is a unique conic section (ellipse, hyperbola, or parabola) which passes through all five points. The conic section passing through the five points is an ellipse whose axes are parallel to the coordinate axes. Find the length of its minor axis.
Solution
The four points and form a rectangle, and the horizontal line through bisects the rectangle. So, visually, we hope that the center of the ellipse coincides with the center of the rectangle, which has coordinates and that its major axis should pass through the point

In this case, the semimajor axis has length Then, its equation must take the form where is the length of the semiminor axis. Since lies on the ellipse, setting we have or Solving for gives so the length of the minor axis is
Final answer
\frac{4\sqrt3}{3}