1.

EQUATION OF TANGENT TO A PARABOLA AT (X1, Y1)

1. Cartesian form:
Let P be the point (x1, y1) and Q a point (x2, y2) on the parabola.
y 2  y1
The equation to the line PQ is y  y1  (x  x1 ) …(1)
x 2  x1
Since P and Q both lie on the curve, we have y12 = 4ax1 ….(2) and
2
y2 = 4ax2 ….(3)
Hence, by subtraction, we have y22 – y12 = 4a (x2 – x1 ),
y 2  y1 4a
 (y2 – y1)(y2 + y1) = 4a(x2 – x1)   ……………(4)
x 2  x1 y 2  y1
Substituting this value in equation (1), we have, as the equation to any secant PQ,
4a
y  y1  (x  x1 )
y 2  y1
To obtain the equation of the tangent at (x 1, y1) we take Q infinitely close to P, and hence, in the
limit, put y2 = y1. The equation (4) becomes
2a
y  y1   x  x1 
y1
Hence the equation of tangent at the point (x1, y1) is yy1  2a( x  x1 )  0 or T  0
2. Slope form:
Let the line y = mx + c….(i) touches the parabola y2 = 4ax …..(ii)
The abscissae of the points in which the straight line (i) meets the curve (ii) given by the
equation m2x2 + 2x(mc – 2a) + c2 ….(iii)
The line (i) will touch (ii) if it meet it in two points which are indefinitely close to one another, i.e.,
in two points which ultimately coincide.
a
The condition for this is 4(mc – 2a)2 = 4m2c2  a2 – amc = 0  c .
m
m
Hence the line y  mx  (m  0) represent a tangent to the parabola y2 = 4ax for all m. Also
a
 a 2a 
it is the tangent at the point  2 , .
m m 
3. Parametric form:
The equation of the tangent to parabola y2 = 4ax at (x1, y1) is yy1 = 2a(x + x1).
If the point (x1, y1)  (at2, 2at), then the equation of tangent becomes
y.2at = 2a(x + at2)  yt = x + at2.
Illustration 23 Find the equation of circle which touches the parabola y 2=4x, at (1, 2) and
also the y–axis
Key Concept: First write the family of circle which touches parabola

at (1, 2). Then apply the condition that it also touches
the y–axis.

Solution: Equation of tangent to parabola at (1, 2) is x – y  1  0. Family of circle touching

this line at (1, 2) is (x – 1)2  (y – 2)2  (x – y  1)  0.
It also touches y-axis 1  (y – 2)2  (0 – y  1)  0 must have equal roots. 
2 2  2.
Illustration 24 m1 (x + a) and (y – b) = m2 (x + a) are the tangents of y 2
If the lines (y – b) =
= 4ax, then find the value of m1m2 .

Key concept: Tangents drawn from any point on the directrix are always mutually perpendicular.
Solution: Clearly, both the lines pass through (–a, b) which is a point lying on the directrix of
the parabola. Thus, m1m2 = – 1.
Illustration 25: A tangent to the parabola y2 = 8x makes an angel of 45° with the straight line
y = 3x + 5. Find its equation and its point of contact.
Solution. Slope of required tangent’s are
3 1 1
m=  m1 = – 2, m2 =
1 3 2
 Equation of tangent of slope m to the parabola y2 = 4ax is
a 1  1
y = mx + .  tangent’s y = – 2x – 1 at  ,  2   y = x + 4 at (8, 8)
m 2  2

Illustration 26: Two tangents to the parabola y2 = 4ax makes angle 1 and 2 with the positive
cot 1
direction of x – axis. Find the locus of their point of intersection if 2
cot  2
.
Solution: Let two tangents be drawn at points t1 and t2 on parabola y2 = 4ax. So if point of
intersection of two tangents is (h, k) then
h = at1t2 …….(1)
k = a(t1 + t2) …….(2)
1
Slope of tangent at P, tan 1 =
t1
1
Slope of tangent at Q, tan 2 =
t2
 According to the condition given
tan 1 1 / t1 t 2 1
    t2 = 2t2 ……(3)
tan  2 1 / t 2 t1 2
Eliminating t1 and t2 from equation (1). (2) and (3) we get
9ax
9ah = 2k2 .Hence required locus is y2 = .
2

Exercise 6:
1. Find equation tangent to parabola y2 = 4x whose intercept on y–axis is 2.

2. Prove that perpendicular drawn from focus upon any tangent of a parabola lies on the tangent at the
vertex.

3. Prove that image of focus in any tangent to parabola lies on its directrix.

4 If the line xcos + y sin = p touches the parabola y2 = 4a(x+ a) , a> 0 then prove that p  a or p  -a.

5 For what value of k does the line x + y + 1 = 0 touch the parabola y 2 = kx ? Also find point of
contact.
6. Find the equations of the tangents of the parabola y2 = 12 x, which passes through the point (2, 5).

7. Find the equations of the tangents to the parabola y2 = 16x, which are parallel and perpendicular
respectively to the line 2x - y + 5 = 0. Find also the coordinates of their points of contact.
2. EQUATION OF TANGENT FROM AN EXTERNAL POINT
From any point (x1, y1) out side the parabola we can draw two tangents to the parabola.
Let (h, k) be any point on either of the tangents drawn from (x 1, y1). The equation to the line joining
k  y1 k  y1 hy  kx1
(x1, y1) to (h, k) is y  y1  (x  x1 )  y  x 1
h  x1 h  x1 h  x1
a
If this be a tangent it must be of the form y  mx  .
m
k  y1 hy  kx1 a k  y1 hy1  kx1
So  m and 1  . Hence, by multiplication a  .
h  x1 h  x1 m h  x1 h  x1
 a(h - x1 )2 = (k – y1)(hy1 - kx1). The locus of the point (h, k) (i.e, the pair of tangents required) is
therefore a (x - x1)2 = (y – y1)(xy1 – yx1) …..(i)
It will be seen that this equation is the same as (y2 – 4ax) (y12 – 4ax1) = {yy1- 2a(x + x1)}2
 SS1  T 2 where S= y2 = 4ax, S1= y12 – 4ax1 ,T= yy1- 2a(x + x1).

Illustration 27: Find the equation of the tangents of the parabola y2 = 12x. which passes through
the point (2, 5).
3
Solution: Equation of any tangent to y2 = 12x, is y = mx + .
m
3
Now this passes through (2, 5)  5 = 2.m +  2m2 – 5m + 3 = 0  m = 1
m
3
or m = .
2
Case I: for m = 1 tangent is x – y + 3 = 0.
3
Case II: for m = tangent is 3x – 2y + 4 = 0.
2
Illustration 28: Write the equation of pair of tangents to the parabola y 2 = 4x drawn from a
point P(–1, 2)
Solution: We know the equation of pair of tangents are given by SS 1 = T²
 (y2 – 4x) (4 + 4) = (2y + 2 (x – 1))2
 8y2 – 32x = 4y2 + 4x2 + 4 + 8xy – 8y – 8x  y2 – x2 – 2xy – 6x + 2y = 1
Illustration 29: Find the focus of the point P from which tangents are drawn to parabola y 2
= 4ax having slopes m1, m2 such that
(i) m1 + m2 = m0 (const) (ii) 1 + 2 = 0 (const)

Solution: Equation of tangent to y2 = 4ax, is

y = mx +
Let it passes through P(h, k)
 m2h – mk + a = 0
k
(i) m1 + m2 = m0 =  y = m0x
h
m1  m2 k /h
(ii) tan0 = =  y = (x – a) tan0
1  m1 m2 1  a / h
Exercise 7:
1. Find the equation to the tangents to the parabola y2 = 9x which goes through the point (4, 10).

2. If two tangents to the parabola y2 = 4ax from a point P make angles 1 and 2 with the axis of the
parabola, then find the locus of P in each of the following cases.
 (i) tan21 + tan22 =  (a constant) (ii) cos 1 cos 2 =  (a constant)

3. PAIR OF TANGENTS:
1. Point of Intersection of Tangents at ‘t1’ & ‘t2’
Equations of the tangents at the points (at12, 2at1) and (at22 , 2at2) are (by ARt. 7.6)
yt1 = x + at12 .........(4)
and yt2 = x + at22 .........(5)
respectively.
Solving equations (4) and (5) gives the coordinates of the intersection point of these two
tangents as {at1t2, a(t1 + t2)}

2. Equation of Pair of tangents drawn from external point

The equation to the pair of tangents which can be drawn from any point (x1, y1) to the parabola
y² = 4ax is given by: SS1 = T² where :
S  y²  4ax ; S1 = y1²  4ax1 ;T  y y1  2a(x + x1).

Illustration 30: Tangents at the extremities of any focal chord intersect at right angles on
the directrix.
Let P(at2, 2at) and P ( at1 , 2at1 ) be the end points of a focal chord of the
2
Solution :
parabola.
Then t.t1 = –1. Equation of the tangent at the point P and the point P are ty = x
+ at2 and
t1y = x + at12 respectively.
Let these tangents intersect at a point (h, k). Then h = at1t and k = a(t + t1). Now
here
1 1
. = – 1 i.e., the tangents are perpendicular and also h = –a. Hence the locus
t t1
of the point (h, k) is x = –a which is the equation of the directrix.
Note: (i) If the tangents at t1 & t2 are at right angles then t1t2 = –1.
(ii) If the chord joining t1, t2 subtends a right angle at the vertex then t1t2 = – 4
4. DIRECTOR CIRCLE:
Locus of the point of intersection of the perpendicular tangents to a curve is called the Director
Circle. For parabola y2 = 4ax it’s equation is x + a = 0 which is parabola’s own directrix.

2. The curves y2 = 4x, x2 = 4y cut in two points. Find the angles between the tangents at each
point of intersection.
 3
Ans. , tan1  
2 4
Exercise 8:
 1. If the tangents at the points P and Q on a parabola meet in T, prove that ST 2 = SP. SQ i.e., ST is the
geometric mean of the focal distances of P and Q.
2. If the tangents to the parabola y2 = 4ax at the points P and Q intersects at T, prove that TP and TQ
subtend equal angles at the focus.
3. Show that the locus of the point of intersection of perpendicular tangents to the parabola is its
directrix.
4. Prove that the locus of the point of intersection of tangents to the parabola y 2 = 4ax which meet at
an angle is (x + a)2 tan2 = y2 – 4ax.

5. COMMON TANGENT
The common tangent to a curve and given parabola is found by assuming a tangent on parabola
as
a
y = mx + (so as to make sure that the line becomes the tangent to the given parabola) and
m
then imposing
the condition of tangency on the given curve.
Illustration 31: Find the equation of the directrix of the parabola with vertex at the origin and
having the axis along the x-axis and a common tangent of slope 2 with the
circle x2+y2=5.
Solution: Let the equation of the required parabola be y2 = 4ax. Any tangent to this whose
a
slope is 2 is given by y = 2x + , now this is also a tangent to x2 + y2 = 5. Hence
2
on applying the condition of tangency we get a = 10 or – 10. Hence equation of
directrix is x = – 10 or x = 10.

Illustration 32: Find the common tangents of x2 + y2 = 2a2 and y2 = 8ax.

2a
Solution: The line y = mx + is always a tangent to the given parabola. Now if this line
m
is also a tangent to the given circle , then applying the condition of tangency , we
get
| 2a / m |
p=r  a 2  (m2  1)(m2  2)  0  m  1 , hence the equation of
1 m 2

tangents are y = (x + 2a).

Illustration 33: Find the equations to the common tangents of the parabolas y 2 = 4ax and x2
= 4by.

Solution: Equation of tangent to y2 = 4ax is

a
y = mx + ........(i)
m
Equation of tangent to x2 = 4by is
b 1 b
x = m 1y +  y= x– ........(ii)
m1 m1 (m1 ) 2
for common tangent, (i) & (ii) must represent same line.
1 a b a
 = m and = – 2  = – bm2  m =
m1 m m1 m
1/ 3
 a
 
 b
 equation of common tangent is
 1/ 3 1/ 3
 a  b
y=   x+a   .
 b  a
Exercise 9:
1. TP and TQ are any two tangents to a parabola and tangent at a third point R cuts them in P ’ and Q'.
TP ' TQ'
Find the value of + .
TP TQ
2. Find the equation of the common tangent to the parabola y 2 = 4ax and x2 = 4by.
3. Prove that the condition that two tangents to the parabola y2 = 4ax becomes normal to the circle x2 + y2 -
2ax - 2by + c = 0 is given by b2 > 4a2.

DAILY CONCEPT EVALUATION TEST-3

1. The point at which the line y  mx  c touches the parabola y 2  4 ax is
 a 2a   a 2a   a 2a 
(a)  2,  (b)  2,  (c)  2 ,  (d)
m m  m m   m m 
 a 2a 
  2 , 
 m m

2. The locus of a foot of perpendicular drawn to the tangent of parabola y 2  4 ax from focus, is

(a) x 0 (b) y0 (c) y 2  2a(x  a) (d)

x 2  y 2 (x  a)  0

3. The equation of tangent at the point (1, 2) to the parabola y 2  4 x , is

(a) x  y 1  0 (b) x  y 1  0 (c) x  y 1  0 (d)
x  y 1  0

4. The tangent to the parabola y 2  4 ax at the point (a, 2a) makes with x-axis an angle equal to

   
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 4 2 6

5. The equation of the tangent to the parabola y 2  9 x which goes through the point (4, 10 ) is

(a) x  4y  1  0 (b) 9x  4y  4  0 (c) x  4 y  36  0 (d)

9x  4y  4  0

6. Two perpendicular tangents to y 2  4 ax always intersect on the line

(a) x a (b) x a 0 (c) x  2a  0 (d)

x  4a  0

7. The equation of latus rectum of a parabola is x  y  8 and the equation of the tangent at the
vertex is x  y  12 , then length of the latus rectum is

(a) 4 2 (b) 2 2 (c) 8 (d) 8 2

8. If the segment intercepted by the parabola y 2  4 ax with the line lx  my  n  0 subtends a right
angle at the vertex, then
(a) 4 al  n  0 (b) 4 al  4 am  n  0 (c) 4 am  n  0 (d) al  n  0
9. Angle between two curves y 2  4 (x  1) and x 2  4 (y  1) is

(a) 0o (b) 90 o (c) 60 o (d) 30 o

10. The number of distinct real tangents that can be drawn from (0, –2) to the parabola y 2  4 x is

(a) One (b) Two (c) Zero (d) None of

these
11. If y  b  m 1 (x  a) and y  b  m 2 (x  a) are two tangents to the parabola y 2  4 ax , then
(a) m1  m2  0 (b) m1m2  1 (c) m1m2  1 (d) None of
these

12. The equation of common tangent to the circle x 2  y 2  2 and parabola y 2  8 x is

(a) y  x 1 (b) y  x 2 (c) y  x 2 (d)

y  x  2

13. The point of intersection of tangents at the ends of the latus rectum of the parabola y 2  4 x is

(a) (1, 0) (b) (–1, 0) (c) (0, 1) (d) (0, –1)

14. If y 1 , y 2 are the ordinates of two points P and Q on the parabola and y 3 is the ordinate of the
point of intersection of tangents at P and Q, then
(a) y 1 , y 2 , y 3 are in A. P. (b) y 1 , y 3 , y 2 are in A. P.
(c) y 1 , y 2 , y 3 are in G.P. (d) y 1 , y 3 , y 2 are in G. P.

15. The equation of the parabola whose focus is the point (0, 0) and the tangent at the vertex is
x  y  1  0 is (a) x 2  y 2  2 xy  4 x  4 y  4  0 (b) x 2  y 2  2 xy  4 x  4 y  4  0
(c) x 2  y 2  2 xy  4 x  4 y  4  0 (d) x 2  y 2  2 xy  4 x  4 y  4  0

16. The two parabolas y 2  4 x and x 2  4 y intersect at a point P, whose abscissae is not zero, such
that
(a) They both touch each other at P (b) They cut at right angles at P
(c) The tangents to each curve at P make complementary angles with the x-axis
(e) None of these

17. The angle of intersection of the curves y 2  2 x /  and y  sin x, is

(a) cot 1 (1 /  ) (b) cot 1  (c) cot 1 ( ) (d)
1
cot (1 /  )

18. The locus of the point of intersection of the perpendicular tangents to the parabola
x 2  8 x  2 y  2  0 is
(a) 2y  15  0 (b) 2y  15  0 (c) 2x  9  0 (d) None of
these

19. If perpendicular be drawn from any two fixed points on the axis of a parabola at a distance d
from the focus on any tangent to it, then the difference of their squares is
(a) a2  d 2 (b) a2  d 2 (c) 4 ad (d) 2 ad

20. Two straight lines are perpendicular to each other. One of them touches the parabola
y 2  4 a(x  a) and the other touches y 2  4 b(x  b) . Their point of intersection lies on the line
(a) x ab  0 (b) x ab  0 (c) x ab  0 (d)
x ab  0
21. The circles on focal radii of a parabola as diameter touch
(a) The tangent at the vertex (b) The axis
(c) The directrix (d) None of these

22. Which one of the following curves cuts the parabola y 2  4 ax at right angles

(a) x 2  y 2  a2 (b) y  e  x / 2a (c) y  ax (d) x 2  4 ay

23. Let y  f (x) be a parabola, having its axis parallel to y-axis, which is touched by the line y  x
at x  1 , then
(a) f ' (0)  f ' (1) (b) 2 f (0)  1  f ' (0) (c) f ' (1)  1 (d)
f (0)  f ' (0)  f ' ' (0)  1

24. The angle between the tangents drawn from the point (3, 4) to the parabola y 2  2 y  4 x  0 is
8 5   12   5
(a) tan 1   (b) tan 1   (c) tan 1   (d) none
 7   7 
   5  
25. P is a variable point on the parabola x 2  44 x  y  88 and Q is a point on the plane not lying on
the parabola. If PQ 2 is minimum, then the angle between the tangent at P & PQ is
 1 
(a) tan 1  
(b) (c) tan 1 (2) (d)
3 2 2
26. Tangents drawn from the point A(4,8) to the parabola y  16 x meet the parabola at P & Q.
2

Then locus of the centre of the circle described on PQ as diameter is

(a) x 2  2a ( y  a ) (b) y 2  2a( x  a ) (c) x 2  2a ( y  a ) (d)
y 2  2a ( x  a )

27. Let P( ,  ) be any point on parabola y 2  4 x(0    2) , M is the foot of perpendicular from the
focus S to the tangent at P, then the maximum value of area of PMS =
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) /3 (d) /6
28. If P is the pole of chord AB of a parabola and the length of perpendiculars from A, P, B on any
tangent to the curve be p1 , p2 and p3 then
(a) p3 is the G.M. between p1 & p2 (b) p3 is the A.M. between p1 & p2
(c) p1 is the G.M. between p2 & p3 (d) none

29. If  be the angle which the portion of a tangent to a parabola cut off between the directrix and
the curve subtends at the focus, then  =
(a) 45° (b) 60° (c) 90° (d) none

30. If the tangents at points P & Q of the parabola y 2  4ax meet at R and b, c, d be the lengths of
perpendiculars from P, Q, R to any tangent to the parabola, then the roots of equations
bx 2  2dx  c  0 are necessarily
(a) Imaginary (b) Real & equal (c) Real & unequal (d) Rational

31. The equation of the common tangent touching the circle ( x  3) 2  y 2  9 and the parabola
y 2  4 x above the x-axis, is
(a) 3 y  3x  1 (b) 3 y  ( x  3) (c) 3y  x  3 (d)
3 y  (3x  1)
32. The tangent at the point P( x1, y1 ) to the parabola y 2  4ax meets the parabola y 2  4a ( x  b)
at Q & R, then the mid-point of QR is
(a) ( x1 , y1 ) (b) ( x1  b1 , y1 ) (c) ( x1  b1 , y1  b) (d)
( x1  b, y1  b)

33. The set of real values of ‘a’ for which at least one tangent to y 2  4ax becomes normal to the
circle x 2  y 2  2ax  4ay  3a 2  0 is
(a) [1, 2] (b) [ 2 ,3] (c) R (d) none

34. From a point T, a tangent is drawn at the point P(16, 16) of the parabola y 2  16 x. If S be the
focus of the parabola, then TPS can be equal to
3 1 1 1 
(a) tan 1   (b) tan 1   (c) tan 1   (d)
4 2 2 2 4

35. The equation of the common tangent to the curves y 2  8 x and xy  1 is

(a) 3 y  9x  2 (b) y  2x  1 (c) 2y  x  8 (d) y  x2

36. The angle between the tangents drawn from the point (1, 4) to the parabola y 2  4 x is
   
(a) (b) (c) (d)
6 4 3 2
37. The sub tangent, ordinate and subnormal to the parabola y 2  4ax at a point (different from the
origin) are in
(a) A.P. (b) G.P. (c) H.P. (d) none
y 2  2 px
38. Consider a circle with its centre lying on the focus of the parabola such that its touches
the directrix of the parabola. Then, a point of intersection of the circle and the parabola is
p   p  p 
(a)  2 , p  (b)  p, 2  (c)  2 ,p (d)
     
 p 
  2 , p 
 

39. Tangents are drawn from a point P to the parabola y 2  8 x such that slope of one tangent is
twice the slope of the other. The locus of P is
(a) Line (b) Circle (c) Parabola (d) Ellipse

40. The two parabolas y 2  4 x and x 2  4 y intersect at a point P, whose abscissa is not zero, such
that
(a) They touch each other at P (b) They cut at right angles at P
(c) The tangents to each curve at P make complementary angles with the x-axis (d)
None

41. The ratio of area of triangle inscribed in a parabola to the area of the triangle formed by the
tangents at the vertices of the triangle is
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 1/2 (d) none

42. Minimum distance between the curves y 2  x  1 and x 2  y  1 is equal to

3 2 5 2 7 2 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
4 4 4 4

43. An equation of a tangent common to the parabolas y2 = 4x and x2 = 4y is

(A) x – y + 1 = 0 (B) x + y – 1 = 0 (C) x + y + 1 = 0 (D) y = 0
44. The line 4x  7y + 10 = 0 intersects the parabola, y2 = 4x at the points A & B. The co-ordinates
of the point of intersection of the tangents drawn at the points A & B are:
7 5  5 7 5 7  7 5
(A)  ,  (B)  2 ,  2 (C)  ,  (D)   , 
2 2   2 2  2 2

45. If on a given base, a triangle be described such that the sum of the tangents of the base angles
is a constant, then the locus of the vertex is:
(A) a circle (B) a parabola (C) an ellipse (D) a hyperbola

46. If the distances of two points P & Q from the focus of a parabola y2 = 4ax are 4 & 9, then the
distance of the point of intersection of tangents at P & Q from the focus is:
(A) 8 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 13

47. The point of contact of the tangent to the parabola y2 = 9x which passes through the point (4,
10) and makes an angle  with the axis of the parabola such that tan  > 2 is
(A) (4/9, 2) (B) (36, 18) (C) (4, 6) (D) (1/4, 3/2)

48. From an external point P, pair of tangent lines are drawn to the parabola, y2 = 4x. If 1 & 2

are the inclinations of these tangents with the axis of x such that, 1 + 2 = , then the locus
4
of P is:
(A) xy+1=0 (B) x+y1=0 (C) xy1=0 (D) x+y+1=
0