/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 92 A focal chord of a conic section... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

A focal chord of a conic section is a line through a focus joining two points of the curve. The latus rectum is the focal chord perpendicular to the major axis of the conic. Prove the following properties. The length of the latus rectum of the parabola \(y^{2}=4 p x\) or \(x^{2}=4 p y\) is \(4|p|\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Question: Prove that the length of the latus rectum for the parabolas \(y^2 = 4px\) and \(x^2 = 4py\) is \(4|p|\). Answer: Analyzing the two parabolas, we find their focus coordinates, vertex, and the equations of the axes. Then, we find the points on the parabolas where the latus rectum passes through and determine its length. For both parabolas, we find that the length of the latus rectum is \(4|p|\).

Step by step solution

01

Analyze the given parabolas and find the focus and vertex

For the first parabola, \(y^2 = 4px\), the vertex is at \((0,0)\) and the focus is situated on the x-axis at \((p,0)\). The axis of the parabola is the x-axis, or the line \(y=0\). For the second parabola, \(x^2 = 4py\), the vertex is at \((0,0)\), and the focus is situated on the y-axis at \((0,p)\). The axis of the parabola is the y-axis, or the line \(x=0\).
02

Find the points on the parabolas where the latus rectum passes through

For the first parabola, the latus rectum is the horizontal line passing through the focus \((p,0)\). Let's call the two points on the parabola where it intersects the latus rectum \(A\) and \(B\). Since the latus rectum is perpendicular to the axis, it must be parallel to the y-axis. Therefore, both points A and B must have the same x-coordinate as the focus, which is \(p\). Now, let's substitute the x-coordinate of the points in the equation of the parabola, \(y^2 = 4px\): $$A(p, y_A): y_A^2 = 4p \cdot p \Rightarrow y_A = \pm 2p$$ $$B(p, y_B): y_B^2 = 4p \cdot p \Rightarrow y_B = \mp 2p$$ For the second parabola, the latus rectum is a vertical line passing through the focus \((0,p)\). Let's call the two points on the parabola where it intersects the latus rectum \(C\) and \(D\). Since the latus rectum is perpendicular to the axis, it must be parallel to the x-axis. Therefore, both points C and D must have the same y-coordinate as the focus, which is \(p\). Now, let's substitute the y-coordinate of the points in the equation of the parabola, \(x^2 = 4py\): $$C(x_C, p): x_C^2 = 4p \cdot p \Rightarrow x_C = \pm 2p$$ $$D(x_D, p): x_D^2 = 4p \cdot p \Rightarrow x_D = \mp 2p$$
03

Find the length of the latus rectum for both parabolas

For the first parabola, the length of the latus rectum is the vertical distance between points A and B. Since \(y_A = 2p\) and \(y_B = -2p\), the length of the latus rectum for the parabola \(y^2 = 4px\) is: $$AB = |y_A - y_B| = |2p - (-2p)| = |4p|$$ For the second parabola, the length of the latus rectum is the horizontal distance between points C and D. Since \(x_C = 2p\) and \(x_D = -2p\), the length of the latus rectum for the parabola \(x^2 = 4py\) is: $$CD = |x_C - x_D| = |2p - (-2p)| = |4p|$$ Hence, the length of the latus rectum for both given parabolas is \(4|p|\).

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Show that the equation \(r=a \cos \theta+b \sin \theta\) where \(a\) and \(b\) are real numbers, describes a circle. Find the center and radius of the circle.

A trochoid is the path followed by a point \(b\) units from the center of a wheel of radius \(a\) as the wheel rolls along the \(x\) -axis. Its parametric description is \(x=a t-b \sin t, y=a-b \cos t .\) Choose specific values of \(a\) and \(b,\) and use a graphing utility to plot different trochoids. In particular, explore the difference between the cases \(a>b\) and \(a

Sector of a hyperbola Let \(H\) be the right branch of the hyperbola \(x^{2}-y^{2}=1\) and let \(\ell\) be the line \(y=m(x-2)\) that passes through the point (2,0) with slope \(m,\) where \(-\infty < m < \infty\). Let \(R\) be the region in the first quadrant bounded by \(H\) and \(\ell\) (see figure). Let \(A(m)\) be the area of \(R .\) Note that for some values of \(m\) \(A(m)\) is not defined. a. Find the \(x\) -coordinates of the intersection points between \(H\) and \(\ell\) as functions of \(m ;\) call them \(u(m)\) and \(v(m),\) where \(v(m) > u(m) > 1 .\) For what values of \(m\) are there two intersection points? b. Evaluate \(\lim _{m \rightarrow 1^{+}} u(m)\) and \(\lim _{m \rightarrow 1^{+}} v(m)\) c. Evaluate \(\lim _{m \rightarrow \infty} u(m)\) and \(\lim _{m \rightarrow \infty} v(m)\) d. Evaluate and interpret \(\lim _{m \rightarrow \infty} A(m)\)

Water flows in a shallow semicircular channel with inner and outer radii of \(1 \mathrm{m}\) and \(2 \mathrm{m}\) (see figure). At a point \(P(r, \theta)\) in the channel, the flow is in the tangential direction (counterclockwise along circles), and it depends only on \(r,\) the distance from the center of the semicircles. a. Express the region formed by the channel as a set in polar coordinates. b. Express the inflow and outflow regions of the channel as sets in polar coordinates. c. Suppose the tangential velocity of the water in \(\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) is given by \(v(r)=10 r,\) for \(1 \leq r \leq 2 .\) Is the velocity greater at \(\left(1.5, \frac{\pi}{4}\right)\) or \(\left(1.2, \frac{3 \pi}{4}\right) ?\) Explain. d. Suppose the tangential velocity of the water is given by \(v(r)=\frac{20}{r},\) for \(1 \leq r \leq 2 .\) Is the velocity greater at \(\left(1.8, \frac{\pi}{6}\right)\) or \(\left(1.3, \frac{2 \pi}{3}\right) ?\) Explain. e. The total amount of water that flows through the channel (across a cross section of the channel \(\theta=\theta_{0}\) ) is proportional to \(\int_{1}^{2} v(r) d r .\) Is the total flow through the channel greater for the flow in part (c) or (d)?

An ellipse (discussed in detail in Section 10.4 ) is generated by the parametric equations \(x=a \cos t, y=b \sin t.\) If \(0 < a < b,\) then the long axis (or major axis) lies on the \(y\) -axis and the short axis (or minor axis) lies on the \(x\) -axis. If \(0 < b < a,\) the axes are reversed. The lengths of the axes in the \(x\) - and \(y\) -directions are \(2 a\) and \(2 b,\) respectively. Sketch the graph of the following ellipses. Specify an interval in t over which the entire curve is generated. $$x=4 \cos t, y=9 \sin t$$

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.