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NCERT Exemplar · Q51

Q.The equation of the hyperbola with vertices at (0,±6)(0, \pm 6) and eccentricity 53\dfrac{5}{3} is ________ and its foci are ________.

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The hyperbola is vertical (vertices on the y-axis), so its standard form is y2a2−x2b2=1\frac{y^2}{a^2} - \frac{x^2}{b^2} = 1. With a=6a = 6 and e=53e = \frac{5}{3}, we get c=ae=10c = ae = 10, then b2=c2−a2=64b^2 = c^2 - a^2 = 64. The equation is y236−x264=1\frac{y^2}{36} - \frac{x^2}{64} = 1 and the foci are at (0,±10)(0, \pm 10).


Why this approach works

The vertices are given as (0,±6)(0, \pm 6). That tells you two things immediately: the centre is at the origin, and the transverse axis is vertical (because the vertices lie on the y-axis). For a hyperbola centred at the origin with a vertical transverse axis, the standard equation is

y2a2−x2b2=1\frac{y^2}{a^2} - \frac{x^2}{b^2} = 1

where aa is the distance from the centre to each vertex. Here a=6a = 6.

The eccentricity ee is defined as e=cae = \frac{c}{a}, where cc is the distance from the centre to each focus. For any hyperbola, c2=a2+b2c^2 = a^2 + b^2. So once we know aa and ee, we can find cc, then bb, and write the full equation.


Step-by-step solution

1. Identify aa from the vertices.

Vertices are (0,±6)(0, \pm 6), so the distance from centre (0,0)(0,0) to either vertex is 66. Hence

a=6.a = 6.

2. Use eccentricity to find cc.

Eccentricity e=53e = \frac{5}{3} and e=cae = \frac{c}{a}. Therefore

c=ae=6⋅53=10.c = a e = 6 \cdot \frac{5}{3} = 10.

So the foci are at (0,±10)(0, \pm 10).

3. Find b2b^2 using the hyperbola relation.

For a hyperbola, c2=a2+b2c^2 = a^2 + b^2. Thus

b2=c2−a2=102−62=100−36=64.b^2 = c^2 - a^2 = 10^2 - 6^2 = 100 - 36 = 64.

So b=8b = 8. …

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