Skip to content
Exercise 6.1 · Q1

Q.Find the locus of PP, if for all values of α\alpha, the co-ordinates of a moving point PP is

(i) (9cos⁡α, 9sin⁡α)(9\cos\alpha,\ 9\sin\alpha)
(ii) (9cos⁡α, 6sin⁡α)(9\cos\alpha,\ 6\sin\alpha).
Puducherry TnboardTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★
1% · 1/129 Questions
✓ Free question

Eliminate α\alpha using cos⁡2α+sin⁡2α=1\cos^2\alpha+\sin^2\alpha=1.

Let P=(x,y)P=(x,y). In both parts the coordinates are given parametrically in α\alpha, so following the locus procedure we solve for cos⁡α\cos\alpha and sin⁡α\sin\alpha in terms of x,yx,y and eliminate α\alpha with the Pythagorean identity.

Step 1. Part (i) — write the coordinate equations. Here x=9cos⁡αx=9\cos\alpha, y=9sin⁡αy=9\sin\alpha, so cos⁡α=x9\cos\alpha=\dfrac{x}{9} and sin⁡α=y9\sin\alpha=\dfrac{y}{9}.

Step 2. Part (i) — eliminate α\alpha. Substituting into cos⁡2α+sin⁡2α=1\cos^2\alpha+\sin^2\alpha=1:

(x9)2+(y9)2=1  ⇒  x281+y281=1  ⇒  x2+y2=81.\left(\frac{x}{9}\right)^2+\left(\frac{y}{9}\right)^2=1 \;\Rightarrow\; \frac{x^2}{81}+\frac{y^2}{81}=1 \;\Rightarrow\; x^2+y^2=81.

Step 3. Part (ii) — write the coordinate equations. Here x=9cos⁡αx=9\cos\alpha, y=6sin⁡αy=6\sin\alpha, so cos⁡α=x9\cos\alpha=\dfrac{x}{9} and sin⁡α=y6\sin\alpha=\dfrac{y}{6}.

Step 4. Part (ii) — eliminate α\alpha. Substituting into cos⁡2α+sin⁡2α=1\cos^2\alpha+\sin^2\alpha=1:

(x9)2+(y6)2=1  ⇒  x281+y236=1.\left(\frac{x}{9}\right)^2+\left(\frac{y}{6}\right)^2=1 \;\Rightarrow\; \frac{x^2}{81}+\frac{y^2}{36}=1.

✓Final answer

  1. x2+y2=81x^2+y^2=81.
  2. x281+y236=1\dfrac{x^2}{81}+\dfrac{y^2}{36}=1.

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.