Answer:
b. ellipse
Step-by-step explanation:
The squared terms have the same sign and different coefficients. That means the equation describes an <em>ellipse</em>.
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<em>Additional comment</em>
<em>both variables are highest degree 2</em>:
coefficients have the same sign and magnitude: circle
coefficients have the same sign and different magnitude: ellipse
coefficients have different signs: hyperbola*
<em>only one variable has highest degree 2</em>:
parabola
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* If the equation can be factored to a product of linear terms that is zero, then the equation is of two intersecting lines. This is a degenerate case of the hyperbola in which the major axis is zero: the two vertices are the same point.
