Definition:Ellipse/Major Axis/Semi-Major Axis
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Definition
Consider an ellipse $K$.
A semi-major axis of $K$ is either half of the major axis of $K$ from its midpoint to its endpoint.
In the above diagram, $O V_1$ and $O V_2$ are the semi-major axes of $K$.
Also known as
Some sources do not hyphenate: semimajor axis.
Also see
Linguistic Note
The plural of axis is axes, which is pronounced ax-eez not ax-iz.
Compare basis.
Sources
- Weisstein, Eric W. "Ellipse." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Ellipse.html