Equation of Confocal Ellipses/Formulation 1

Definition
The equation:
 * $(1): \quad \dfrac {x^2} {a^2 + \lambda} + \dfrac {y^2} {b^2 + \lambda} = 1$

where:
 * $\tuple {x, y}$ denotes an arbitrary point in the cartesian plane
 * $a$ and $b$ are (strictly) positive constants such that $a^2 > b^2$
 * $\lambda$ is a (strictly) positive parameter such that $b^2 > -\lambda$

defines the set of all confocal ellipses whose foci are at $\tuple {\pm \sqrt {a^2 - b^2}, 0}$.

Proof
Let $a$ and $b$ be arbitrary (strictly) positive real numbers fulfilling the constraints as defined.

Let $E$ be the locus of the equation:
 * $(1): \quad \dfrac {x^2} {a^2 + \lambda} + \dfrac {y^2} {b^2 + \lambda} = 1$

As $b^2 > -\lambda$ it follows that:
 * $b^2 + \lambda > 0$

and as $a^2 > b^2$:
 * $a^2 + \lambda > 0$

Thus $(1)$ is in the form:
 * $\dfrac {x^2} {r^2} + \dfrac {y^2} {s^2} = 1$

where:
 * $r^2 = a^2 + \lambda$
 * $s^2 = b^2 + \lambda$

From Equation of Ellipse in Reduced Form, this is the equation of an ellipse in reduced form.

It follows that:
 * $\tuple {\pm \sqrt {a^2 + \lambda}, 0}$ are the positions of the vertices of $E$
 * $\tuple {0, \pm \sqrt {b^2 + \lambda} }$ are the positions of the covertices of $E$

From Focus of Ellipse from Major and Minor Axis, the positions of the foci of $E$ are given by:


 * $\paren {a^2 + \lambda} - \paren {b^2 + \lambda} = c^2$

where $\tuple {\pm c, 0}$ are the positions of the foci of $E$.

Thus we have:

Hence the result.

Also see

 * Equation of Confocal Conics
 * Equation of Confocal Hyperbolas