Manipal MET2015MathematicsParabola
Two common tangents to the circle x^2+y^2=2 a^2 and parabola y^2=8 a x are
Options
- Ax= (y+2 a)
- By= (x+2 a)
- Cx= (y+a)
- Dy= (x+a)
Correct answer
B. y= (x+2 a)
Step-by-step solution
The equation of any tangent to y^2=8 a x is y=m x+ 2 a m ...(i) If it touches x^2+y^2=2 a^2 , then ( 2 a m )^2=2 a^2 (1+m^2 ) [ c^2=a^2 (1+m^2 ) ] 2=m^2 (m^2+1 ) array rlrl & m^4+m^2-2 & =0 & (m^2+2 ) (m^2-1 ) & =0 & & m^2-1 & =0 & & m & = 1 array Putting the values of m in Eq. (i), we get y= (x+2 a) as the equations of common tangents.