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Question 35 of 58

Q.ax^2 + by^2 = 1 and Ax^2 + By^2 = 1 meet each other orthogonally (a not equal to A, b not equal to B, aB - bA not equal to 0). Show that 1/a - 1/b = 1/A - 1/B.

West Bengal WbchseWest Bengal HS (WBCHSE) Board 2019Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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At the point of intersection, use both curve equations to find x2,y2x^2,y^2 in terms of the coefficients, then apply the perpendicular-tangents condition.

At the common point (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1) of ax2+by2=1ax^2+by^2=1 and Ax2+By2=1Ax^2+By^2=1, both equations hold. Solving them simultaneously (eliminating y12y_1^2, then x12x_1^2):

x12=B−baB−bA,y12=a−AaB−bAx_1^2=\dfrac{B-b}{aB-bA},\qquad y_1^2=\dfrac{a-A}{aB-bA}

Differentiating each curve implicitly gives slopes at (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1):

m1=−ax1by1,m2=−Ax1By1m_1=-\dfrac{ax_1}{by_1},\qquad m_2=-\dfrac{Ax_1}{By_1}

Orthogonality means m1m2=−1m_1m_2=-1:

aA x12bB y12=−1  ⇒  aA x12+bB y12=0\dfrac{aA\,x_1^2}{bB\,y_1^2}=-1 \;\Rightarrow\; aA\,x_1^2+bB\,y_1^2=0

Substitute x12,y12x_1^2,y_1^2:

aA⋅B−baB−bA+bB⋅a−AaB−bA=0aA\cdot\dfrac{B-b}{aB-bA}+bB\cdot\dfrac{a-A}{aB-bA}=0 …

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