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In an ellipse, which name belongs to the longer of the two axes of symmetry?
AThe minor axis
BThe polar axis
CThe major axis
DThe conjugate axis
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. The major axis
1. Every ellipse has two axes of symmetry that cross at its center.
2. The longer one is named the major axis and the shorter one the minor axis.
3. The foci always sit on the major axis, never on the minor axis.
_Source: OpenStax College Algebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 8 "Analytic Geometry", section 8.1 The Ellipse_
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