Eccentricity: $0.0542$
Major Axis Length: $2.854 * 10^9$
For this particular problem my issue is figuring out how to determine which elliptic equation to use with the givens in the prompt.
My professor provided us with the equation:
$$r = \frac{a(1-e^2)}{1+e\cos(\theta)}$$
but the solution to the homework assignment on Slader says to use:
$$r = \frac{a(1-e^2)}{1-e\cos(\theta)}$$
How do I determine which elliptic equation to use?
If you want the right focus to be at the origin, use the + sign.
If you wan the left focus to be at the origin, use the - sign.