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Exercise 5.6 · Q2

Q.The eccentricity of the hyperbola whose latus rectum is 88 and conjugate axis is equal to half the distance between the foci is

(1) 43\dfrac43
(2) 43\dfrac4{\sqrt3}
(3) 23\dfrac2{\sqrt3}
(4) 32\dfrac32
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✓ Free question

Translate both given conditions into equations relating a,b,ca,b,c, then combine to solve for aa (and hence ee).

Step 1. Latus rectum condition. 2b2a=8⇒b2=4a\dfrac{2b^2}a=8 \Rightarrow b^2=4a.

Step 2. Conjugate-axis condition. Conjugate axis =2b=2b; distance between foci =2c=2c; 'conjugate axis is half the distance between foci' means 2b=12(2c)=c2b=\dfrac12(2c)=c, i.e. c=2bc=2b.

Step 3. Combine with c2=a2+b2c^2=a^2+b^2.

(2b)2=a2+b2⇒4b2=a2+b2⇒3b2=a2(2b)^2=a^2+b^2 \Rightarrow 4b^2=a^2+b^2 \Rightarrow 3b^2=a^2.

Step 4. Substitute b2=4ab^2=4a.

a2=3(4a)=12a⇒a=12a^2=3(4a)=12a \Rightarrow a=12 (dividing by a≠0a\ne0). Then b2=4(12)=48b^2=4(12)=48.

Step 5. Find ee.

c=2b=248=83c=2b=2\sqrt{48}=8\sqrt3. e=ca=8312=233=23e=\dfrac ca=\dfrac{8\sqrt3}{12}=\dfrac{2\sqrt3}3=\dfrac2{\sqrt3}.

✓Final answer

e=23e=\dfrac2{\sqrt3} — option (3).

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