If the perpendicular be drawn on any tangent to a parabola from two fixed points on the axis which are equidistant from the focus. Prove that the difference of their squares is constant.
Answer
686.7k+ views
Hint: In the above type of question first of all we will have to suppose any parabola for which the focus and its general point are already known and after that we will move further with the given condition.Also we will use the formula for the perpendicular distance from a given point which is given below;
\[\begin{align}
& \text{let, }y=mx+c\text{ is the equation of line and (}{{x}_{1}},{{y}_{1}})\text{ is a point}\text{.} \\
& \text{Then the perpendicular distance}=\dfrac{{{y}_{1}}-m{{x}_{1}}-c}{\sqrt{1+{{m}^{2}}}}. \\
\end{align}\]
Complete step by step answer:
Let us suppose a horizontal parabola whose equation is ${{y}^{2}}=4ax$ having focus (a, 0) and general point is \[(a{{t}^{2}},2at)\].
Let, the two fixed points on the axis be \[A(a-h,0)\text{ and }B(a+h,0)\]where h is any constant.
Also, the equation of tangent to parabola ${{y}^{2}}=4ax$ is $yt=x+a{{t}^{2}}$.
Let, \[{{p}_{1}}\text{ and }{{p}_{2}}\] be the perpendicular from point A and B respectively upon the tangent,
\[\begin{align}
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}=\dfrac{a+h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{2}}=\dfrac{a-h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \\
\end{align}\]
Now, we will find the difference of the square of the distance which is shown below;
\[\begin{align}
& {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}={{\left( \dfrac{a+h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \right)}^{2}}-{{\left( \dfrac{a-h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \right)}^{2}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}=\dfrac{{{a}^{2}}+{{h}^{2}}+{{a}^{2}}{{t}^{4}}+2ah+2ah{{t}^{2}}+2{{a}^{2}}{{t}^{2}}-{{a}^{2}}-{{h}^{2}}-a{{t}^{4}}+2ah+2ah{{t}^{2}}-2{{a}^{2}}{{t}^{2}}}{1+{{t}^{2}}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}=\dfrac{4ah+4ah{{t}^{2}}}{1+{{t}^{2}}}=\dfrac{4ah(1+{{t}^{2}})}{1+{{t}^{2}}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}=4ah \\
\end{align}\]
Here, we get the difference of the square of perpendicular distance is equal to \[4ah\] which is a constant.
Here, it is proved that the difference of the square of the perpendicular distance from the two fixed points on the axis of parabola is constant.
NOTE: Remember the perpendicular distance formula as well as the equation of the parabola and properties related with it as it makes the question easy to understand.
\[\begin{align}
& \text{let, }y=mx+c\text{ is the equation of line and (}{{x}_{1}},{{y}_{1}})\text{ is a point}\text{.} \\
& \text{Then the perpendicular distance}=\dfrac{{{y}_{1}}-m{{x}_{1}}-c}{\sqrt{1+{{m}^{2}}}}. \\
\end{align}\]
Complete step by step answer:
Let us suppose a horizontal parabola whose equation is ${{y}^{2}}=4ax$ having focus (a, 0) and general point is \[(a{{t}^{2}},2at)\].
Let, the two fixed points on the axis be \[A(a-h,0)\text{ and }B(a+h,0)\]where h is any constant.
Also, the equation of tangent to parabola ${{y}^{2}}=4ax$ is $yt=x+a{{t}^{2}}$.
Let, \[{{p}_{1}}\text{ and }{{p}_{2}}\] be the perpendicular from point A and B respectively upon the tangent,
\[\begin{align}
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}=\dfrac{a+h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{2}}=\dfrac{a-h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \\
\end{align}\]
Now, we will find the difference of the square of the distance which is shown below;
\[\begin{align}
& {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}={{\left( \dfrac{a+h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \right)}^{2}}-{{\left( \dfrac{a-h+a{{t}^{2}}}{\sqrt{1+{{t}^{2}}}} \right)}^{2}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}=\dfrac{{{a}^{2}}+{{h}^{2}}+{{a}^{2}}{{t}^{4}}+2ah+2ah{{t}^{2}}+2{{a}^{2}}{{t}^{2}}-{{a}^{2}}-{{h}^{2}}-a{{t}^{4}}+2ah+2ah{{t}^{2}}-2{{a}^{2}}{{t}^{2}}}{1+{{t}^{2}}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}=\dfrac{4ah+4ah{{t}^{2}}}{1+{{t}^{2}}}=\dfrac{4ah(1+{{t}^{2}})}{1+{{t}^{2}}} \\
& \Rightarrow {{p}_{1}}^{2}-{{p}_{2}}^{2}=4ah \\
\end{align}\]
Here, we get the difference of the square of perpendicular distance is equal to \[4ah\] which is a constant.
Here, it is proved that the difference of the square of the perpendicular distance from the two fixed points on the axis of parabola is constant.
NOTE: Remember the perpendicular distance formula as well as the equation of the parabola and properties related with it as it makes the question easy to understand.
Recently Updated Pages
If x a + bt + ct2 where x is in meters and t is in class 11 physics CBSE

A car covers the first half distance between two places class 11 physics CBSE

The resultant of two vectors overrightarrow P and overrightarrow class 11 physics CBSE

Find the value of cos 135 class 11 maths CBSE

A mass M is held in place by an applied force F and class 11 physics CBSE

A solution of glucose in water is labelled as 10 dfracwv class 11 chemistry CBSE

Trending doubts
One Metric ton is equal to kg A 10000 B 1000 C 100 class 11 physics CBSE

Find the value of the expression given below sin 30circ class 11 maths CBSE

What do you mean by retardation What is its SI uni class 11 physics CBSE

Draw a diagram of nephron and explain its structur class 11 biology CBSE

10 examples of friction in our daily life

Difference between physical and chemical change class 11 chemistry CBSE

