The ceiling of the whispering gallery of the stautary hall in the united states capitol building can be approximated by a semi ellipse. because of the properties of reflection, the whispering of someone tanding at one focus can be clearly heard by a person standing at th eohter focus. suppose that the distance between the foci is 38.5 feet and the max height of the ceiling above ear level is 37 feet. find the equation of an elliptical cross ection of this gallery.