• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

Parametrics Q (1 Viewer)

mtsmahia

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
284
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Q) P is a variable point on the parabola x^2=-4y . The tangent of P cuts the parabola x^2=4y @ Q and R. Show that 3x^2=4y is the eq of the locus of the midpoint of the chord RQ.

thanks!
 

martinc

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
81
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2010
Q) P is a variable point on the parabola x^2=-4y . The tangent of P cuts the parabola x^2=4y @ Q and R. Show that 3x^2=4y is the eq of the locus of the midpoint of the chord RQ.

P is point (-2p,-p^2) since a=1

dy/dx = dy/dt / dxdt
dy/dx = -2p/-2
=p

tangent at P
y+p^2=p(x+2p)
y=px+p^2

cuts the parabola x^2=4y.. then solve simultaneously

y = x^2 / 4
y=px+p^2

x^2=4px+4p^2
x^2-4px-4p^2=0
to find two points of intersection.. solve for x
quadratic equation..
delta = 16p^2-4(1)(-4p^2)
=32p^2
x= (4p plusminus root32p^2) / 2
x=(2p plusminus 2rootp^2)
y=______

just sub in y.. i'm too lazy to do it.. then find midpoint and then eliminate the vairable.
it looks pretty messy. can someone find an error in my working?
 

mtsmahia

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
284
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Q) P is a variable point on the parabola x^2=-4y . The tangent of P cuts the parabola x^2=4y @ Q and R. Show that 3x^2=4y is the eq of the locus of the midpoint of the chord RQ.

P is point (-2p,-p^2) since a=1

dy/dx = dy/dt / dxdt
dy/dx = -2p/-2
=p

tangent at P
y+p^2=p(x+2p)
y=px+p^2

cuts the parabola x^2=4y.. then solve simultaneously

y = x^2 / 4
y=px+p^2

x^2=4px+4p^2
x^2-4px-4p^2=0
to find two points of intersection.. solve for x
quadratic equation..
delta = 16p^2-4(1)(-4p^2)
=32p^2
x= (4p plusminus root32p^2) / 2
x=(2p plusminus 2rootp^2)
y=______

just sub in y.. i'm too lazy to do it.. then find midpoint and then eliminate the vairable.
it looks pretty messy. can someone find an error in my working?
Yeah , i ended up doing the same steps - looked messy to me to , i thought i did it wrong :(
 

bored of sc

Active Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2007
Messages
2,314
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Q) P is a variable point on the parabola x^2=-4y . The tangent of P cuts the parabola x^2=4y @ Q and R. Show that 3x^2=4y is the eq of the locus of the midpoint of the chord RQ.

P is point (-2p,-p^2) since a=1

dy/dx = dy/dp / dx/dp
can someone find an error in my working?
It's a trivial error but it's an error nonetheless.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top