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Q.Find the values of 'k' for which the curves x=y² and xy=k cut at right angle.

West Bengal WbchseWest Bengal HS (WBCHSE) Board 2025Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Curves cut at right angles when the product of their tangent slopes at the intersection point is −1-1.

Slope of x=y2x=y^2: differentiating implicitly, 1=2ydydx⇒m1=12y1=2y\dfrac{dy}{dx} \Rightarrow m_1=\dfrac{1}{2y}.

Slope of xy=kxy=k: y=kx⇒dydx=−kx2y=\dfrac{k}{x} \Rightarrow \dfrac{dy}{dx}=-\dfrac{k}{x^2}. Since k=xyk=xy at any point on this curve, kx2=xyx2=yx\dfrac{k}{x^2}=\dfrac{xy}{x^2}=\dfrac{y}{x}, so m2=−yxm_2=-\dfrac{y}{x}.

Orthogonality condition (m1m2=−1m_1m_2=-1):

12y⋅(−yx)=−1  ⇒  −12x=−1  ⇒  x=12\frac{1}{2y}\cdot\left(-\frac{y}{x}\right) = -1 \;\Rightarrow\; -\frac{1}{2x}=-1 \;\Rightarrow\; x=\frac12

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