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Question 40 of 58

Q.Using calculus, show that the straight line lx + my + n = 0 touches the circle x² + y² = a² if a²(l² + m²) = n².

West Bengal WbchseWest Bengal HS (WBCHSE) Board 2022Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Use calculus to write the tangent to the circle at a general point (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1) via implicit differentiation, then match its coefficients to the given line to derive the touching condition.

Circle: x2+y2=a2x^2+y^2=a^2. Differentiate implicitly to get the slope at any point on the circle:

2x+2ydydx=0⇒dydx=−xy2x+2y\dfrac{dy}{dx}=0 \Rightarrow \dfrac{dy}{dx} = -\dfrac{x}{y}

Tangent at a point (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1) on the circle, using point-slope form with slope −x1/y1-x_1/y_1:

y−y1=−x1y1(x−x1)y-y_1 = -\dfrac{x_1}{y_1}(x-x_1)

y1y−y12=−x1x+x12y_1y - y_1^2 = -x_1x + x_1^2

x1x+y1y=x12+y12=a2x_1x + y_1y = x_1^2+y_1^2 = a^2 (using (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1) lies on the circle)

So the tangent at (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1) is:

x1x+y1y−a2=0...(*)x_1x+y_1y-a^2=0 \quad \text{...(*)}

Match this to the given line lx+my+n=0lx+my+n=0. For the line to actually BE this tangent, the coefficients must be proportional:

x1l=y1m=−a2n=k  (say)\dfrac{x_1}{l} = \dfrac{y_1}{m} = \dfrac{-a^2}{n} = k \ \ (\text{say})

So x1=klx_1=kl, y1=kmy_1=km, and k=−a2nk=-\dfrac{a^2}{n}.

Use the fact that (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1) lies on the circle: x12+y12=a2x_1^2+y_1^2=a^2

(kl)2+(km)2=a2(kl)^2+(km)^2=a^2 …

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