Enter the distance from the center to the focus and the distance from the center to the vertex to determine the eccentricity of an ellipse.

## Eccentricity Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the eccentricity of a shape.

e = c / a
• Where e is the eccentricity
• c is the distance from the center to the focus point
• a is the distance from the center to the vertex

To calculate eccentricity, divide the distance from the center to the focus point by the distance from the center to the vertex.

## Eccentricity Definition

Eccentricity is defined as the ratio of the distance from the center to a focus point to the distance from the center to the vertex.

## Eccentricity Example

How to calculate eccentricity?

1. First, measure the distance c.

C is the measure of the distance from the center of the ellipse to the focus point.

2. Next, measure the distance a.

A is the measure of the distance between the center to the vertex.

3. Finally, calculate the eccentricity.

Divide the value c by the value a to calculate the eccentricity of the shape.

## FAQ

What is eccentricity?

Eccentricity is a measure of the ratio of the locus of a point focus and the distance on the line to that point. In other words, it’s a measure of how much a particular shape, typically an ellipse, varies from a perfect circle. The greater the eccentricity the greater the variation and more oval shape it is.