Tangents to Parabolas

1. Consider a parabola x 2 4 y . (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Use algebra to find the coordinates of the points of intersection of the parabola and the line y x 3 . Show that the parabola and y x 1 have only one point in common. Show that the parabola and y x 2 have no points in common. What is the geometrical significance of these results?

2.

Find the equation of the tangent at the point P(8, 2) on the parabola x 2 32 y .

[HINT: Use Calculus]

3.

Write the equation of the parabola with focus S(0, 1) and directrix y 1 0 . The tangent at P(4, 4) on this parabola meets the y-axis at T. (i) (ii) Find the equation of the tangent and the coordinates of T. Prove that SP = TS.

4.

The line 4 y 3x 4 meets the parabola x 2 4 y at A and B. M is the midpoint of AB. (i) Find the coordinates of A, B and M. (ii) Sketch the parabola showing these points. (iii) The tangents to the parabola at A and B meet at T. Obtain the equations of these tangents and show that T is (1 1 2 , 1) . Show that T lies on the directrix of the parabola and that TM is parallel to the axis of the parabola.

5.

Prove that for a line y mx b to be a tangent to the parabola x 2 4 y the condition is b am2 . Deduce that the line y mx am2 is a tangent to x 2 4 y for all values of m.