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(a) or (b): Deduce the standard equation of an ellipse.
Assam AhsecAHSEC Higher Secondary (HS) 1st Year Examination 2018Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Deriving from the focal-distance-sum definition gives x2a2+y2b2=1\dfrac{x^2}{a^2}+\dfrac{y^2}{b^2}=1.

Let the foci be S(c,0)S(c,0) and S′(−c,0)S'(-c,0). By definition, an ellipse is the locus of points P(x,y)P(x,y) such that the sum of distances to the two foci is a constant, 2a2a:

(x−c)2+y2+(x+c)2+y2=2a.\sqrt{(x-c)^2+y^2}+\sqrt{(x+c)^2+y^2}=2a.

Isolate one radical and square:

(x−c)2+y2=2a−(x+c)2+y2\sqrt{(x-c)^2+y^2}=2a-\sqrt{(x+c)^2+y^2}

(x−c)2+y2=4a2−4a(x+c)2+y2+(x+c)2+y2.(x-c)^2+y^2 = 4a^2-4a\sqrt{(x+c)^2+y^2}+(x+c)^2+y^2.

Expanding and simplifying (the x2,y2x^2,y^2 terms cancel):

−2cx=4a2−4a(x+c)2+y2+2cx-2cx = 4a^2-4a\sqrt{(x+c)^2+y^2}+2cx

4a(x+c)2+y2=4a2+4cx  ⟹  a(x+c)2+y2=a2+cx.4a\sqrt{(x+c)^2+y^2}=4a^2+4cx \implies a\sqrt{(x+c)^2+y^2}=a^2+cx.

Square again:

a2[(x+c)2+y2]=(a2+cx)2a^2\big[(x+c)^2+y^2\big]=(a^2+cx)^2 …

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