Tag: tangent and normal to an ellipse

Questions Related to tangent and normal to an ellipse

Multiple choice maths ellipse normal to an ellipse tangent and normal to an ellipse two dimensional analytical geometry-ii

Tangents are drawn to the ellipse $ \displaystyle \frac{x^2}{a^2}+\displaystyle \frac{y^2}{b^2}=1 $ at points where it is intersected by the line $ \ell x+my+n=0 $. Find the point of intersection of tangents at these points.

  1. $ \displaystyle \frac{-a^2}{n},\displaystyle \frac{-b^2m}{n} $
  2. $ \displaystyle \frac{-a^2\ell}{n},\displaystyle \frac{-b^2m}{n} $
  3. $ \displaystyle \frac{-a^2\ell}{n},\displaystyle \frac{-b^2}{n} $
  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Let $P\left( { x } _{ 1 },{ y } _{ 1 } \right) $ be the point of intersection of the
Line $lx+my+n=0$ and the ellipse $\cfrac { { x }^{ 2 }

}{ {a }^{ 2 } } +\cfrac { { y }^{ 2 } }{ { b }^{ 2 } } =1$
Then the equation of tangent at $P$ is
$\cfrac

{ { xx } _{ 1 } }{ { a }^{ 2 } } +\cfrac { { yy } _{ 1 } }{ { b }^{ 2 } }

=1\cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot (i)$
Since $\left( { x } _{ 1 },{ y } _{ 1 } \right) $  is the point of intersection of the line
$lx+my+n=0\cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot (ii)$
Clearly $(i)$ and $(ii)$ represent the same line. Therefore,
$\therefore \quad \cfrac { { x } _{ 1 } }{ { a }^{ 2 }l } =\cfrac { { y } _{ 1 } }{ { b }^{ 2 }m } =\cfrac { 1 }{ -n } $
${ x } _{ 1 }=\cfrac { { -a }^{ 2 }l }{ n } ,\quad { y } _{ 1 }=\cfrac { -{ b }^{ 2 }m }{ n } $
Therefore, the point of intersection of given line and  the given ellipse is
$\left(- \cfrac { { a }^{ 2 }l }{ n } ,\cfrac { { b }^{ 2 }m }{ n }  \right) \quad $
Hence, option 'B' is correct.

Multiple choice maths ellipse normal to an ellipse tangent and normal to an ellipse two dimensional analytical geometry-ii

A ray emanating from the point $(4, 0)$ is incident on the ellipse $9x^2\, +\, 25y^2\, =\, 225$ at the point $P$ with abscissa $3$. Find the equation of the reflected ray after first reflection.

  1. $12x + 5y = 48$
  2. $12x - 5y = 48$
  3. $-12x - 35y = 48$
  4. $-12x + 35y = 48$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C,D Correct answer
Explanation

Solution:

Given equation of ellipse: $9x^2+25y^2=225$
$\cfrac{x^2}{25}+\cfrac{y^2}{9}=1$
Let $P(3,y _1)$
or, $9\times3^2+25y _1^2=225$
or, $25y _1^2=144$
or, $y _1=\pm\cfrac{12}{5}$
$\cfrac{x^2}{25}+\cfrac{y^2}{9}=1$
$\cfrac{x^2}{5^2}+\cfrac{y^2}{3^2}=1$
or, $e^2=1-\cfrac{b^2}{a^2}$

or, $e^2=1-\cfrac{9}{25}=\cfrac{16}{25}$
or, $e=\cfrac{4}{5}$
$ae=5\times\cfrac45=4$
It means the given point $(4,0)$ is focus of the ellipse.
We know that rays emanating from the one focus passes through other focus i.e $(-4,0)$
So, Equation of reflected ray $\Rightarrow y=\cfrac{\cfrac{12}{5}-0}{3+4}(x+4)$
or, $35y=12x+48$
or, $-12x+35y=48$
and another equation of reflected ray$\Rightarrow y=\cfrac{\cfrac{-12}{5}-0}{3+4}(x+4)$
or, $35y=-12x-48$
or, $-12x-35y=48$

Multiple choice maths ellipse normal to an ellipse tangent and normal to an ellipse two dimensional analytical geometry-ii

The tangent and normal to the ellipse $x^2\, +\, 4y^2\, =\, 4$ at a point $P(\theta)$ on it meet the major axis in $Q$ and $R$ respectively. If $QR = 2$, the eccentric angle $\theta$ of $P$ is given by 

  1. $\cos \theta\, =\, \pm\, \dfrac23$
  2. $\sin \theta\, =\, \pm\, \dfrac23$
  3. $\tan \theta\, =\, \pm\, \dfrac23$
  4. $\cot \theta\, =\, \pm\, \dfrac23$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The equation of tangent to ellipse is $bx cos\theta+ay sin\theta=ab$

It meets major axis at $x=\dfrac{a}{cos\theta}$
The equation of normal to ellipse is $ax sec \theta -by cosec \theta=a^{2}-b^{2}$
It meets the major axis at $x=\dfrac{a^{2}-b^{2}}{a sec\theta}$
Here $a=2$ and $b=1$
So, point $Q$ is $\left(\dfrac{2}{cos\theta},0 \right)$ and point $R$ is $\left(\dfrac{3}{2 sec\theta},0\right)$
The distance between them $QR= \dfrac{3cos\theta}{2}-\dfrac{2}{cos\theta}=2$
$\Rightarrow 3\cos ^{ 2 }{ \theta  } -4cos \theta-4=0$
$\Rightarrow cos \theta=-\dfrac{2}{3}$