ABC is a right angle triangle (right angled at B) inscribed in the par...
Let A(t1), B(t2) and C(t3) be the points on the parabola
also length of intercept cut off by tangents from y-axis is |t1 - t3|≥ 4
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ABC is a right angle triangle (right angled at B) inscribed in the par...
Given:
- ABC is a right angle triangle (right angled at B) inscribed in the parabola y² = 4x.
- We need to find the minimum length of the intercept cut off by the tangents at A and C to the parabola from y-axis.
To find:
- The minimum length of the intercept cut off by the tangents at A and C to the parabola from y-axis.
Solution:
1. Equation of tangent at any point (a²/4, a) on the parabola y² = 4x is y = ax + a²/4.
2. For point A on the parabola, the tangent is y = ax + a²/4.
3. Slope of tangent at A is a.
4. Equation of perpendicular bisector of AB is x = a²/4.
5. Let the point of intersection of the perpendicular bisector of AB and the y-axis be P.
6. Let the coordinates of point A be (a²/4, a) and coordinates of point C be (c, 0).
7. Slope of AC is -a/c.
8. Equation of tangent at C is y = (-a/c)x + c.
9. Slope of tangent at C is -a/c.
10. Equation of perpendicular bisector of BC is y = (a/c)x - ac/2.
11. Let the point of intersection of the perpendicular bisector of BC and the y-axis be Q.
12. Now, the length of PQ is the required intercept cut off by the tangents at A and C to the parabola from y-axis.
13. Coordinates of point P are (a²/4, 0).
14. Coordinates of point Q are (0, ac/2).
15. Length of PQ is given by
PQ = √[(0 - a²/4)² + (ac/2)²]
= √[(a⁴/16) + (a²c²/4)]
= a√[(a²/16) + (c²/4)]
16. We need to minimize PQ.
17. Let f(a,c) = a√[(a²/16) + (c²/4)].
18. We need to find minimum value of f(a,c).
19. ∂f/∂a = √[(a²/16) + (c²/4)] + (a/8) * (a²/16 + c²/4)^(-1/2) * (2a/16) = 0
20. ∂f/∂c = (ac/2) * (a²/16 + c²/4)^(-1/2) * (1/2) = 0
21. From (20), we get c = 0 or a = 0.
22. If c = 0, then the triangle ABC is degenerate and PQ = AB = a²/4.
23. If a = 0, then the triangle ABC is also degenerate and PQ = BC = c/2.
24. Hence, we need to consider the case where a and c are both non-zero.
25. From (19), we get
√[(a²/16) + (c²/
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