Parabola
Position of a Point
For the parabola y2–4ax = 0
For points lying on the parabola:
SP = 0, i.e, yP2 – 4xP = 0
Points lying inside the parabola:
SR < 0, i.e., yR2 – 4xR < 0
Points lying outside the parabola:
SM > 0 and SN > 0 (doesn’t matter whether it is above or below)
Line and Parabola
Let Parabola P be y2 = 4ax and line L be y = mx+c
We put y = mx+c in y2 = 4ax to get points of intersection
On solving the line and parabola, we get a quadratic
which should give us two points .
(mx+c)2 = 4ax
m2x2 + 2(cm–2a)x + c2 = 0
Line and Parabola
Discriminant = 4(cm–2a)2 – 4m2c2
= 16a(a–cm)
If 16a(a–cm) > 0, line will intersect at two points
If 16a(a–cm) = 0, line is a tangent to the parabola
If 16a(a–cm) < 0, line does not intersect the parabola
Line and Parabola
Length of intercept cut off by line
PR = [(y2–y1)2+(x2–x1)2]1/2
= [m2(x2–x1)2+(x2–x1)2]1/2
= |x2–x1|[m2+1]1/2
x2–x1 = (x2+x1)2 – 4x1x2
x2+x1 and x2x1 can be calculated from: m2x2+ 2(cm–2a)x + c2 = 0
Tangent to the Parabola
We solved y2 = 4ax and y = mx+c to get:
m2x2+ 2(cm–2a)x + c2 = 0
For a tangent, D = 0
4(cm–2a)2 – 4m2c2 = 16a(a–cm) = 0
For a tangent, a = cm
This is the condition for a line to be tangent
y = mx+ a/m is the equation of the tangent
Example
The slope of the line touching both the parabolas y2 = 4x
and x2 = –32y is?
Let the tangent to y2 = 4x be y = mx + 1/m
So, y = mx + 1/m also touches x2 = –32y
x2 = –32(mx + 1/m)
x2 + 32mx + 32/m = 0
Example contd.
For a tangent D = 0
D = (32m)2 – 4(32/m) = 0
m = ½
Example
The angle between the tangents drawn from the point
(1,4) to the parabola y2 = 4x is?
The tangent to y2 = 4x is: y = mx + 1/m
Since it passes through (1,4), 4 = m + 1/m
m2–4m+1 = 0
m1+m2 = 4 and m1m2 = 1
Example contd.
Let the angle between the tangents be α
tanα = |(m1–m2 )/(1+m1m2)|
(m1–m2 )2 = (m1+m2)2 – 4m1m2 = 16–4 = 12
m1–m2 = 2√3
tanα = |2√3/(1+1)| = √3
α = π/3
Example
The radius of a circle having minimum area, which
touches the curve y = 4–x2 and lines y = |x| is?
Let the radius of circle be r
By symmetry, since it is tangent
to the parabolas and y = x, y = –x
It will touch only at the vertex A
Example contd.
AC = r and OC = 4–r, so C is (0, 4–r)
Distance of C from line y = x is r
|[0–(4–r)]/√2| = r
r = 4/(√2+1)
Equation of Tangent
For the parabola y2 = 4ax
1. To write the equation of tangent at (x1,y1), replace:
y2 by yy1 and x by (x+x1)/2
Tangent is yy1 = 2a(x+x1)
2. At P(at2,2at), put y1 = at2 and x1 = 2at in yy1 = 2a(x+x1)
Tangent is 2aty = 2a(x+at2), i.e., ty = x+at2
3. Slope Form: y = mx + a/m
Tangent Equation
For a point P represented parametrically as P(t)
Tangent is: ty = x+at2 (Remember this result)
y = x/t + at
mtangent = 1/t
Therefore, slope of tangent drawn at P(t) is 1/t
Point of Intersection
Find the point of intersection R of tangents to y2 = 4ax at points P(t1)
and Q(t2)
The equation of tangents are t1y = x+at12 and t2y = x+at22
Let R be (x1,y1)
t1y1 = x1+at12 and t2y1 = x1+at22
Solving, x1 = at1t2 and y1 = a(t1+t2)
Point of Intersection of tangents is [at1t2, a(t1+t2)]
Tangent Equation
For y2 = 4ax
Slope Form: y = mx + a/m
For (y–k)2 = 4a(x–h)
Slope Form: y–k = m(x–h) + a/m
