how to draw an ellipse with a string and a pencil?

Answer 1

With a string and a pencil if you attach the string at one end to the surface and the attach the other end to the pencil you will get a circle... therefore to get an ellipse you attach the string to the surface at two points. You then put the pencil into the loop at the end of the string and move it around at the end of the string keeping it taught. This will create and ellipse, to alter the size and shape, simply shorten or lengthen the string or change the attachment points.
I had a teacher once do this on the board with yarn, duct tape, and a marker. It was a very effective teaching method.

Answer 2

This is hard to explain in writing....
1. you tie the string in a loop
2. you strech out the loop on the paper
3. place a tack on the inside of the loop on each end (leave a little space between the string and the tack)
4. place your pencil inside the string and exert outward force against it as you draw around the tacks.

Depending upon how tight you had the tacks against the sttring, you'll produce a nice oval or ellipse.

Answer 3

Are you drawing in a computer? Even MS Word can do circles for you, or use Adobe Illustrator. Use a protractor or stencil for freehand

Answer 4

Here ya go darlin!

Good luck!

Sometimes, it's better if you can see what they mean?

Answer 5

using a cartesian coordinate plane....put the ends of the string in equal distances but make sure you are left with a loop.....

Then just mark it up....

Just do it