For ellipse x^2/16 + y^2/9 = 1, what is c, the distance from the center to each focus?

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Multiple Choice

For ellipse x^2/16 + y^2/9 = 1, what is c, the distance from the center to each focus?

Explanation:
For an ellipse, the distance from the center to each focus is c, where c^2 = a^2 − b^2, with a being the semi-major axis and b the semi-minor axis. In x^2/16 + y^2/9 = 1, the larger denominator is under x, so the major axis is horizontal and a^2 = 16, b^2 = 9. Then c^2 = 16 − 9 = 7, so c = sqrt(7). The distance from the center to each focus is sqrt(7).

For an ellipse, the distance from the center to each focus is c, where c^2 = a^2 − b^2, with a being the semi-major axis and b the semi-minor axis. In x^2/16 + y^2/9 = 1, the larger denominator is under x, so the major axis is horizontal and a^2 = 16, b^2 = 9. Then c^2 = 16 − 9 = 7, so c = sqrt(7). The distance from the center to each focus is sqrt(7).

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