The number of focal chord(s) of length $\dfrac{4}{7}$ in the parabola $7y^2 = 8x$ is
- $1$
- $0$
-
infinite
-
none of these
Reveal answer
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B
Correct answer
Explanation
Parabola: ${ y }^{ 2 }=4(\cfrac { 2 }{ 7 } )x\quad ...........(1)\quad (a=\cfrac { 2 }{ 7 } )$
Let there be a point $P(a{ t }^2,2at)$ on parabola lying on focal chord so it will intersect parabola at $Q(\cfrac { a }{ t }^2,\cfrac { -2a }{ t })$(as ${ t } _{ 1 }{ t } _{ 2 }=-1)$
So, length of $PQ:\sqrt { (\cfrac { a }{ { t }^{ 2 } } -{ { at }^{ 2 }) }^{ 2 }+4(\cfrac { a }{ t } +{ at) }^{ 2 } } $
Given $PQ=\cfrac{ 4 }{ 7 }=\cfrac{ 2 }{ 7 }\sqrt { { (\cfrac { 1 }{ { t }^{ 2 } } -{ t }^{ 2 }) }^{ 2 }+4({ \cfrac { 1 }{ t } +t) }^{ 2 } } $
$=>4=(\cfrac { 1 }{ { t }^{ 2 } } -{ { t }^{ 2 }) }^{ 2 }+4(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }$
$=>4=[(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +t)(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } -{ t)] }^{ 2 }+4(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }$
$=>4={ (\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +t) }^{ 2 }[({ \cfrac { 1 }{ t } -2) }^{ 2 }+4]$
$=>4=({ \cfrac { 1 }{ t } +t) }^{ 2 }(\cfrac { 1 }{ { t }^{ 2 } } +{ t }^{ 2 }+4-2)$
$=>4=({ \cfrac { 1 }{ t } +t) }^{ 2 }({ \cfrac { 1 }{ t } +t) }^{ 2 }$
$=>4=(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t) }^{ 4 }$
$=>0=(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }-({ 2 })^{ 2 }$
$=>[(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }+2][(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }-2]=0$
We know, $[(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }+2]$ can never be zero so $[(\cfrac { 1 }{ t } +{ t })^{ 2 }-2]=0$
$=>(\cfrac{1}{t}+t-\sqrt2)(\cfrac{1}{t}+t+\sqrt2)=0$
$=>({t}^2-\sqrt2t+1)(t^2+\sqrt2t+1)=0$
$=> $either$ I:(t^2-\sqrt2t+1)=0\quad $or$\quad II:(t^2+\sqrt2t+1)=0$
$D _1=(-\sqrt2)^2-4(1)=-2 <0, $ No solution.
$D _2=(\sqrt2)^2-4(1)=-2 <0,$ No solution.
No such focal chord is possible.