MATHEMATICS SOLUTIONS OF

"ADVANCED LEVEL PROBLEMS"

Target : JEE (IITs)
TOPIC : PARABOLA
PART - I
1. Let the equation of line PQ be y = mx + c
by homoginisation
 y  mx 
y2 = 4ax  
 c 

4amx 2 4axy
 y2 + – =0
c c
It is the equation of  r lines passing through 0(0, 0), then coefficient of x 2 + coefficient of y2 = 0
4am
Hence 1 + =0
c
m 1
=– .........(1)
c 4a
y = mx + c cuts the x-axis
 c  c
at R   , 0   OR = – = 4a [from (i)]
 m  m
Hence OR = 4a = Latus Rectum

2. Tangent of slope ‘m’ to the parabola y2 = 4x is

1
y = mx + it should be chord of the circle x 2 + y2 = 4 whose
m
centre (0, 0) and radius = 2 then

1 0  0  1/ m
Line y – mx – = 0 is a chord so <2
m 1  m2

1
< 4(1 + m 2)
m2
 4m 4 + 4m 2 – 1 > 0
m2 = t
 1  2   2 1 
t    ,  2    2 ,  
  
4t2 + 4t – 1 > 0 
   
But t = m 2
 2 1 
hence m 2   2 ,  
 
 

 2  1   2 1 
  ,  
m    ,  2    2
   

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 1
 y
3. P
2
 y2 = 8x
x  focus : (2, 0)
o S
(2, 0)
common chord x =1  radius = SP = 1 8 = 3
Q  equation of required circle is (x – 2)2 + y2 = 9

4. Let the parabola

y2 = 4ax , extremitis of latus rectum P(a, 2a) Q(a, – 2a)
2a
m OP = =2
a
m OQ = – 2
by symmetric  = 2
ps 2a
also tan  = = =2
so a

now 3 <2< 2 +1
 3
i.e. tan < 2 < tan
3 8
 3
i.e. < tan–1 2 <
3 8
2 3
so < 2 tan–1 2 <
3 4
2 3
i.e. <<
3 4
5. Let P(, 0) and Q(, 0) also ,  are roots of ax 2 + bx + c = 0
c b
so  = and  +  = – T
a a
OT 2 = OP. OQ
c O Q
P
OT =  =
a

6. y2 – 2y – 2x – 1 = 0
y2 – 2y + 1 = 2x + 2
(y – 1)2 = 2(x + 1)
Normal of slope ‘m’
(y – 1) = m(x + 1) – 2am – am 3
1
at (–2, 2) and a =
2
m3
1 = m (–1) – m –
2
m3
1 = – 2m –
2
2 = – 4m – m 3  m 3 + 4m + 2 = 0
only one real value of ‘m’ hence only one normal is possible as the above is a monotonically increasing
function of m.
7. Slope of normal at point P(t1) is
m = tan  = – t1
Normal cuts again at point Q(t2)
2
then t2 = – t1 – t  t1 t2 = – (t12 + 2) ............(i)
1

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 2
 1
Slope of tangent at point t2 is t .
2
then the angle at which the normal cuts again is say  this is the angle between the normal at t1 and
tangent at t2 , then
using (i) and (ii)
 t 1  1/ t 2  t1 t 2  1 t t 1 t1
tan  = = 1 2 = (using (i))
1  t1 / t 2 t 2  t1 t 2  t1 2

 tan  
  = tan–1  
 2 
8. Let point P be (h, k). equation of normal
y = mx – 2am – am 3
k = mh – 2a.m – am 3
am 3 + m(2a – h) + k = 0 ........(1)
m1 + m2 + m3 = 0
2a  h
 m1 m 2 =
a
k
m1 m2 m3 = –
a
given m 1 m 2 = 1 as if m 1 = tan  , then m 2 = tan (90 – ) = cot 
k
m3 = – in equation ........(2)
a
putting (2) in (1)
k3 k
– a – (2a – h) + k = 0
a3 a

k
 – (k 2 + a(2a – h) – a2 ) = 0 ( k  0)
a2
y2 = a(x – a)
9. P (h, k)
SS1 = T 2
(y2 – 4x) (k 2 – 4h) = (yk – 2(x + h))2
 y2 k 2 – 4hy2 – 4xk 2 + 16xh = y2 k 2 + 4(x + h)2 – 4yk (x + h)
 – hy2 – xk 2 + 4hx = (x 2 + h2 + 2xh) – yk(x + h)
 x 2 + hy2 + x(k 2 – 2h) – kxy – khy = 0

1 + 2 =
4
m1  m 2
now tan (1 + 2) = 1  m m
1 2
now the homogeneous part is x 2 + hy2 – kxy = 0
y
divide by x 2 and put =m
x
we have hm 2 – km + 1 = 0
k 1
i.e. m1 + m2 = and m 1 . m 2 = putting we have
h h
k

h k
 1= =  x–y =1
1 h 1
1
h

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 3
10. y2 = 4ax.....(i)
 slopes of the two normals at the points P(t1) and Q(t2) are – t1 and – t2 respectively
 (–t1) (–t2) = – 1  t1t2 = –1
 equation of chord joining P(t1) and Q(t2) is
2x – y (t1 + t2) + 2at1t2 = 0
 2x – y (t1 + t2) – 2a = 0
 (2x – 2a) – (t1 + t2) (y) = 0 .......(ii)
(ii) will always pass through (a, 0)

11. x2 = – 4ay .......(i)

x2 = 4by .......(ii)
Let mid-point of AB be P(h, k)
 equation of chord AB is T = S1
x(h) – 2b (y + k) = h2 – 4bk
 (2b)y = xh + 2bk – h2
 h  2bk – h 2
 y=   x+ .......(iii)
 2b  2b
 (iii) is a tangent to (i)  C = – AM2
2
2bk – h 2 h ah 2
 = – (–a)  2bk – h2 =
2b 4b 2 2b
locus of P(h, k) is (a + 2b) x2 = 4b2y

12. y2 = 4ax.......(i)
Let (am12, – 2am1)  (4a, – 4a)  m1 = 2
and (am22, – 2am2)  (9a, – 6a)  m2 = 3
Let slope of the third normal be m3
 m1 + m2 + m3 = 0  m3 = – 5
 equation of third normal is y = m3 x – 2am3 – am33
y = – 5x – 2a (– 5) – a (–125)
5x + y – 135a = 0

PART - II
1. Let P, Q and R be the points at which the tangents are drawn and let their coordinates be
(at12, 2at1), (at22 , 2at2), and (at32, 2at3).
 tangents at Q and R intersect in the point
{at2t3, a(t2 + t3)}.
Similarly, the other pairs of tangents meet at the points
{at3t1, a(t3 + t1)} and {at1t2 ,a (t1 + t2)}.
Let the equation to the circle be
x 2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ...... (1).
Since it passes through the above three points, we have
a2t22t32 +a2(t2 + t3)2 + 2gat2t3 + 2fa (t2 + t3) + c = 0 ...... (2),
a2t32t12 +a2(t3 + t1)2 + 2gat3t1 + 2fa (t3 + t1) + c = 0 ...... (3),
and a2t12t22 +a2(t1 + t2)2 + 2gat1t2 + 2fa (t1 + t2) + c = 0 ...... (4),
Subtracting (3) from (2) and dividing by a (t2 – t1), we have
a{t32 (t1 + t2) + t1 + t2 + 2t3}+ 2gt3 + 2f = 0.
Similarly, from (3) and (4), we have
a{t12 (t2 + t3) + t2 + t3 + 2t1} + 2gt1+ 2f = 0.
From these two equations we have
2g = – a (1+t2t3 + t3t1 + t1t2) and 2f = – a(t1 + t2 + t3 – t1t2t3)
Substituting these values in (2), we obtain
c = a2 (t2t3 + t3t1 + t1t2).
The equation to the circle is therefore
x 2 + y2 – ax (1 + t2t3 + t3t1 + t1t2) – ay (t1 + t2 + t3 – t1t2t3) + a2(t2t3 + t3t1 + t1t2) = 0.
Which clearly passes through the focus (a, 0).

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 4
2. Let the extremities of the normal chord be P and Q and the tangents at P and Q to the parabola say
y2= 4ax meet in T. Let the co-ordinates of T be (x 1, y1).
PQ will be the chord of contact for T with respect to the parabola so area of triangle TPQ will be
( y12 – 4ax 1 )3 / 2
= ...... (1)
2a
The equation to the chord of contact of T will be
yy1 = 2a (x+x 1)
2ax1 2ax
or y= y  y ...... (2)
1 1
Equation to any normal to y2 = 4ax is
y = mx – 2am –am 3.
So (2) and (3) must be identical. As the coefficients of y are equal, others must also be equal, so
2a 2ax1
m = y and – 2am – am 3 = y1
1

2a
when y1 = and x 1 = (–2a – am 2).
m
If the inclination of the chord of contact, i.e., the normal is ; then
m = tan 
2a
So y1 = =2a cot and x 1 = (–2a –a tan2 ).
m
Substituting in (1), we get
[ 4a 2 cot 2  – 4a(–2a – a tan 2 )]3 / 2
Area of the triangle =
2a
1 2 3/2 1 3/2
= 4a cot 2   8a2  4a2 tan2  = 4a 2 cot 2   2  tan 2 
  
2   2a

1  2 3 / 2 3/2  cos2   sin2  

=  4a  cot   tan 2
   cot   tan  
sin . cos 
 sec . cos ec
2a    

= 4a2 sec 3 . cosec 3 . Proved

2
3. Let the equation of the parabola be y = 4ax and O be the vertex of it. If OP and OQ be the two
adjacent sides of the rectangle OPRQ and the co-ordinates of P and Q be (at12 , 2at1) and (at2, 2at2)
respectively ; then the equation of the line PQ will be
2x – y (t1 + t2) + 2at1 t2 = 0 ....(i)
The equation of the lines joining the origin the points of intersection of the parabola and
(1) are obtained by making y2 = 4ax homogeneous with the help of (1) ; so, we get
2
P (at1 ,2at)
 y( t  t ) – 2 x 
y2 = 4a. x.  1 2 
 2at 1t 2  M R
2at1t2y – 4a (t1 + t2)xy + 8ax 2 = 0.
2 O
If the lines are at right angles, then the sum of the coeff.
of x 2 and y2 should be zero, hence Q (at 2
2at1t2 + 8a = 0 or t 1t 2 + 4 = 0 ...... (2) 2 ,2at)
Let M is the mid-point of PR, then its co-ordinates will be
 at 2  at 2 
 1 3 , 2at1  2at 3 
 2 2 
 
Let the co-ordinates of the reqd. point R be (h, k) then M will be the mid-point of OR ; also as OPRQ
is a rectangle, so, we get
h0 at 2  at 22
= 1 or h = a(t12 + t22) ...... (3)
2 2
k 0 2at1  2at1
and = or k = 2a (t1 + t2) ...... (4)
2 2

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 5
 To get the reqd. locus, we have to eliminate t1 and t2 from (2,) , (3) and (4), so squaring (4), we get
h 
k 2 = 4a2 (t12 + t22 + 2t1t2) = 4a2  a  2.(–4)
 
{as t12 + t22 = h/a by (1) and t1t2 = – 4 by (2)}
or k 2 = 4ah – 32a2
Generalising, we get the reqd. locus as
y2 = 4a (x – 8a). Proved.
4. Let the parabola be y = 4ax and co-ordinates of P, Q and R be (at 1 2 , 2at1 ), (at 22 , 2at 2 )
2

and (at32 , 2at3) respectively.

Since equation of tangent P(t1) is t1y = x + at12 and
equation of tangent Q(t2) is t2y = x + at12
2 2
Sp t 1+ t = t 2 + t = – t 3 ....... (1)
1 2
 point of intersection of tangents at P and Q is T(at1t2 , a(t1 + t2))
Since normals at P(t1) and Q(t2) meet at a point R (t3) on the parabola
 t1t2 = 2 ....(i) and t2 + t2 + t3 = 0 .......(ii)
 TPRQ is a cyclic quadrilateral
 centre of the circle circumscribing TPRQ will be the mid-point of TR
Let centre be (h, k)
 2h = at1t2 + at23  t 1t 2 = 2
 2h = 2a + at32 .......(ii)
and 2k = a(t1 + t2) + 2at3  t2 + t2 + t3 = 0
 2k = at3 .......(iii)
Now by eliminating t1, t2 from (ii) and (iii), we get
2k 2 = a(h – a)
 required locus is 2y2 = a(x – a)
5. Let Parabola be y2 = 4ax
Slope of the given line is m = tan 
Let point of intersection be P(h, k) and
Q(t1) and R(t2) be the points of tangency then
h = at1t2 and k = a(t1 + t2)
1 1
Slopes of tangent at Q(t1) and R(t2) are m 1 = t and m 2 =
1 t 2

a
 h= mm
1 2

 1 1  (m1  m 2 )
k = a  m  m   k=a
 1 2  m1 m 2
k = h(m 1 + m 2)
m1  m m  m2
= as tangent make equal angle with line of slope m.
1  m1 m 1  m m2
 m 1 + mm 1m 2 – m – m 2 m 2 = m + m 1m 2 – m 2 – m 1 m 2m
 (m 1 + m 2) + 2 mm 1 m 2 – 2m – m 2 (m 1 + m 2) = 0
k a
put m 1 + m 2 = and m 1.m 2 = we get
h h

k a k
 + 2m – 2m – m 2   = 0 k + 2ma – m 2k – 2mh = 0
h h h
2
 y(1 – m ) = 2m(x – a)
2m
y= (x – a) (given m = tan )
1 m2
 y = tan (2) (x – a) Hence the locus is straight line

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 6
6. The line is x + my = 1 ......(1)
and the parabola is y2 = 4ax.
Let (1) cuts the parabola in P and Q such that
P  (at12 , – 2at1) and Q  (at22, – 2at2).
Now equation of PQ is (t1 + t2) y+2x + 2at1t2 = 0. ......(2)
Since the lines (1) and (2) represent the same line, so comparing the coefficients, we get
t1  t 2 2 2at1t 2 2m
= =  t1 + t2 = ......(3)
m  –1 
1
and t 1t 2 = – . ......(4)
a
Again, the normal at (at2, – 2at) is y = tx – 2at – at3, or at3 + t (2a –x) + y = 0.
The roots of this equation will be t1, t2 and t3, such that t1 + t2 + t3 = 0.
–2m
So t3 = – (t1 + t2) = [by (3)] ......(5)

As the third point on the parabola is (at32, – 2at3), so putting the value of t3 from (5), we get the
 4am2 4am 
required point as  2 , 

   
7. If the circle touches the parabola y2 = 4ax at (at2, 2at), they must have a common tangent at that
point, and hence a common normal. The centre of the circle must lie on that normal. Let (h, k) be the
co-ordinates of the centre and r be the radius of the circle. Then its equation can be written as
x 2 + y2 – 2hx – 2ky + c = 0 .... (1)
The equation to the normal at (at2, 2at) is
y = – tx + 2at + at3 .... (2)
As the centre (h, k) lies on the normal (2), hence
k = – th + 2at + at3. .... (3)
Focus of the parabola is (a, 0)
As the circle passes through (a, 0) and (at2, 2at), the distance of these
r2 = (h – a)2 + k 2 = (h – at2)2 + (k – 2at)2
or – 2ah + a2 = – 2aht2 – 4akt + a2t4 + 4a2t2
or 4kt = 2h(1–t2) + at4 + 4at2 – a .... (4)
Solving (3) and (4), 2h = a (3t2 + 1) .... (5)
and 2k = a (3t – t3) .... (6)
Putting the value of h and k in (1), the equation to the circle is
x 2 + y2 – a (3t2 + 1) x – a (3t – t3) y + c = 0 .... (7)
As (7) passes through the focus (a, 0), the co-ordinates will satisfy it; hence a2 – a2 (3t2 + 1) +c = 0 ;
 c = 3a2t2.
Putting the value of ‘c’ in (7) the circle is
x 2 + y2 – ax (3t2 + 1) – ay (3t – t3) + 3a2t2 = 0. proved
(ii) To get the locus of the centre, we have to eliminate t from (5) and (6).
 3k 
Multiplying (5) by t and (6) by 3 and adding, we get 2th + 6k = 10 at ; hence t =  .
 5a – h 
2
 3k 
Substituting the value of ‘t’ in (5), we have (2h – a) = 3a   .
 5a – h 
Simplifying and generalising, the locus of centre (h, k)is
(2x – a) (x – 5a)2 = 27 ay2 Proved.

8. y2 = 8x ...........(i)
Let T1 (at12, 2at1) and T2 (at22 , 2at2) be any two points on parabola (i) and R(h, k) be the point of intersection
of tangents at T1 and T2
 h = at1t2 ......(ii)
and k = a(t1 + t2) ......(iii)
Tangents at T1 and T2 intersect the tangent at its vertex at the points P and Q.
 let P(0, at1) and Q(0, at2)
 PQ = 4  a(t1 – t2) = 4  a2 [(t1 + t2)2 – 4t1t2] = 16 ......(iv)
from (ii) and (iii) we have

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 7
 k h
t1 + t2 = and t1t2 =  equation (iv) will become
a a

 k 2 4h 
a2  2 – a  = 16
 a 
k2 – 4ah = 16  k2 = 4ah + 16  a=2
 k2 = 8h + 16  locus of R(h, k) is y2 = 8(x + 2)

9. y2 = 4ax......(i)
 equation of any normal to parabola (i) is y + tx = 2at + at3 ......(ii)
Let the middle point of normal chord (ii) be (h, k)
 equation of chord with middle point (h, k) is T = S1
yk – 2a(x + h) = k2 – 4ah
(2a) x – (k) y + k2 – 2ah = 0 ......(iii)
 (ii) and (iii) represent the same line
t 1  ( 2at  at 3 ) 2a
 = =  t=– and k2 – 2ah = atk (2 + t2)
2a –k k 2 – 2ah k

 2a   4a 2  8a 4
 k2 – 2ah = ak  –  2  2 
  k2 – 2ah = – 4a2 –
 k   k  k2
 k4 – 2ahk2 = – 4a2k2 – 8a4
 locus of (h, k) is
y4 – 2a (x – 2a) y2 + 8a4 = 0

10. Let parabola be y2 = 4ax.

Tangents at P(t1), Q(t2) and R(t3) are
t 1 y = x + a t 12 ......(1)
t2 y = x + at22 ......(2)
t3 y = x + at32 ......(3)
Points of intersection of these tangents
are A(at1t2 , a(t1 + t2))
B(at2 t3 , a(t2 + t3))
C(at3t1 , a(t3 + t1))
orthocenter is point of intersection of altitudes
So altitude from vertex A is
 y – a(t1 + t2) = – t3 (x – at1t2) .....(4)
Similarly altitude from B is
y – a (t2 + t3) = – t1(x – at2 t3) ........(5)
 So the orthocentre is the point of intersection of (4) and (5).
Hence by solving (4) and (5), we get
(x, y)  (– a, a(t1 + t2 + t3) + at1 t2 t3)
Which is on the directrix , proved

11. Let A = (–a, 0) and B = (a, 0) ;

The centre of the circle = (0, 0).
the equation of the concentric circle will be x 2 + y2 = b2.
Any tangent to x 2 + y2 = b2 is y = mx + b 1 m 2
which is the directrix of the parabola .
Let (, ) be the focus.
Then by focus-directrix property, the equation of the parabola will be
 y  mx  b 1  m 2 
2

2

(x – ) + (y – ) =  
 1  m2 
It passes through A(–a, 0) , B(a, 0) ; so

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 8
 2
 ma  b 1  m 2 
  m 2a 2  b 2 (1  m 2 )  2abm 1  m 2
(a + )2 +  2 =   = ..........(1)
 1  m2  1  m2

2
  ma  b 1  m 2 
2 2
  m 2a 2  b 2 (1  m 2 )  2abm 1  m 2
(a – ) +  =   = ..........(2)
 1  m2  1  m2

m 2 a 2  b 2 (1  m 2 )
(1) + (2)  2(a2 + 2 +  2) = 2 .
1  m2

m2
or a 2 + 2 +  2 = a2 + b2
1  m2

4abm 1  m2
(2) – (1)  – 4a =
1  m2

b 2m 2
or 2 =
1  m2

m2 2
 = 2
1  m2 b
Putting in (3) from (4)
a22
a 2 + 2 +  2 = + b2
b2

 a2 
1   2 +  2 = b 2 – a 2
  b2 
 

b2  a2
or 2 +  2 = b 2 – a 2
b2

2 2
 + =1
b2 b2  a2
 the equation of the locus of the focus (, ) is
x2 y2
+ =1
b2 b2  a2

12. Equation of parabola is y2 = 4ax .......(1)

Let A  (at12, 2at1) B  (at22 , 2at2) , C  (at32 , 2at3)
Equation of the tangents to parabola (1) at A, B, C are
yt1 = x + at12 .......(2)
yt2 = x + at22 and yt3 = x + at32
Let the points of intersection of lines (2) , (3) be P; (3) , (4) be Q and (2) , (4) be R.
Then P  (at1 t2, a(t1 + t2)) , Q  (at2t3, a(t2 + t3)), R  (at1t3, a(t1 + t3))
Now area of ABC,
2
at1 2at1 1
1 at 2 2 2at 2 1
1 = modulus of
2 at 3 2 2at 3 1

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 9
 2
t1 t1 1
1
= modulus of . a. 2a t 2 2 t2 1
2 2
t3 t3 1

= a2 |(t1 – t2) (t2 – t3) (t3 – t1)|

Area of PQR
at1t 2 a( t 1  t 2 ) 1
1
2 = modulus of at 2 t 3 a( t 2  t 3 ) 1
2
at 3 t1 a( t 3  t1 ) 1

t1t 2 t1  t 2 1
a2
= modulus of t 2t 3 t 2  t3 1
2
t 3 t1 t 3  t1 1

t 2 (t1  t 3 ) t1  t 3 0
a2
= modulus of t 3 ( t 2  t1 ) t 2  t1 0 [R1  R1 – R2, R2  R2 – R3]
2
t 3 t1 t 3  t1 1

a2
= modulus of (t1 – t3) (t2 – t1) (t2 – t3)
2

a2
= | (t1 – t2) (t2 – t3) (t3 – t1) |
2
1 2
Clearly  =
2 1

RESONANCE PARABOLA - 10