Tangent to a Parabola

Parabola is an important topic of IIT JEE Mathematics syllabus. Tangent to a parabola is an important head under parabola and it often fetches some questions in elite exams like the JEE. Hence, students are advised to prepare this topic well.

A line touching the parabola is said to be a tangent to the parabola provided it satisfies certain conditions. If we have a line y = mx + c touching a parabola y² = 4ax, then c = a/m. Similarly, the line y = mx + c touches the parabola x² = 4ay if c = -am².

The line x cos c + y sin c = p touches the parabola y² = 4ax if  a sin²c + p cos c = 0.

Remark:

In case, the equation of the parabola is not in standard form, then for the condition of tangency one must first try to eliminate one variable quanity out of x and y by solving the equations of straight line and the parabola and then use the condition B² = 4AC for the derived quadratic equation.
 

Equation of Tangent to a Parabola in point form

Let P(x₁, y₁) and Q(x₂, y₂) be two neighbouring points on the parabola y² = 4ax. Then the equation of the line joining P and Q is y – y₁ = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁) (x – x₁) …… (1) 

Since, points P and Q lie on the parabola, we have

y₁² = 4ax₁ …… (2)

y₂² = 4ax₂ …… (3) 

From the above two equations we have,

y₂² – y₁² = 4a(x₂ – x₁)

⇒ (y₂ - y₁)/(x₂ - x₁) = 4a/(y₁ + y₂)

Equation of chord PQ (i.e. equation (1) becomes):

y – y₁ = 4a/(y₁ + y₂ ) (x – x₁) …… (4)

Our aim is to find the equation of tangent at point P. For that, let point Q approach point P i.e. x₂ → x₁ and y₂ → y₁.

y – y₁ = 4a/(2y₁) (x – x₁)

⇒ yy₁ = 2a (x₁ + x) (using equation (2))

This is the required equation of the tangent to the parabola y² – 4ax at P(x₁, y₁).

Note: 

The angle between the tangents drawn to the two parabolas at the point of their intersection is defined as the angle of intersection of two parabolas. 

There can be various forms of equations of tangents to a parabola. We discuss these forms one by one:
 

Tangent in terms of m 

Suppose that the equation of a tangent to the parabola y² = 4ax … (i)

is y = mx + c. … (ii)

The abscissae of the points of intersection of (i) and (ii) are given by the equation (mx + c)² = 4ax. But the condition that the straight line (ii) should touch the parabola is that it should meet the parabola in coincident points 

⇒ (mx – 2a)² = m²c² … (iii) 

⇒ c = a/m. … (iv)

Hence, y = mx + a/m is a tangent to the parabola y² = 4ax, whatever be the value of m.

Equation (mx + c)² = 4ax now becomes (mx – a/m)² = 0.

⇒ x = a/m² and y² = 4ax ⇒ y = 2a/m.

Thus the point of contact of the tangent y = mx + a/m is (a/m², 2a/m).

Hence the various forms of tangents are listed below:

• yy₁ = 2a(x + x₁) at the point (x₁, y₁)

• y = mx + a/m at (a/m², 2a/m), provided m ≠ 0

• ty = x + at² at (at², 2at).

• The points of intersection of the tangents at the point t₁ and t₂ is (at₁t₂, a(t₁ + t₂)).

• y = mx - am² is a tagnent to the parabola x² = 4ay at (2am, am²) for all values of m.

Some key points:

• Angle between tangents at two points P(at₁², 2at₁) and Q(at₂², 2at₂) on the parabola y² = 4ax is 

?θ = tan^-1|(t₂ - t₁)/(1 + t₁t₂)|

• The orthocentre of the triangle formed by the three tangents to a parabola lies on the directrix.

• It can be noted that the geometric mean of the x-coordinates of P and Q i.e. the term at₁t₂ is also the x-coordinate of the point of intersection of tangents at P and Q on the parabola. 

Illustration: 

Find the condition that the line y = mx + c may touch the Parabola y² = 4ax and also find its point of contact. 

Solution:

Equation of Parabola is yy² = 4ax …… (1)

Slope of tangent at any point is

dy/dx=2a/y = m (say) …… (2)

⇒ y = 2a/m

from (1), x = a/my²

⇒ point of contact is (a/my² ,2a/m) 

Equation of tangent is

y – 2a/m = m (x-a/my² )

or y = mx + a/m

Therefore, the condition that y = mx + c touches the Parabola

yy² = 4ax is c = a/m. 

Illustration:

Find the equation of normal to the Parabola yy² = 4ax, having slope m.

Solution: 

Slope of tangent at any point is 

dy/dx = 2a/y

Slope of normal at that point is

-y/2a = m (say)

⇒ Point of contact of a normal having slope ‘m’ with the Parabola

yy² = 4ax is (amy², – 2am) 

So, equation of normal at this point is 

y + 2am = m (x – amy²)

or y = mx – 2am – amy³. 

Illustration:

If the line 2x + 3y = 1 touches the Parabola yy² = 4ax, find the length of its latus rectum.

Solution: 

Equation of any tangent to yy² = 4ax is

y = mx + a/m ⇒ my²x – my + a = 0.

Comparing it with the given tangent 2x + 3y – 1 = 0, we find

my²/2 = (-m)/3 = a/(-1) ⇒ m = (-2)/3, a = m/3 = -2/9.

Hence the length of the latus rectum.

= 4a = 8/9, ignoring the negative sign for length.

Illustration: 

One the parabola yy² = 4ax, three points E, F, G are taken so that their ordinates are in G.P. Prove that the tangents at E and G intersect on the ordinate of F.

Solution:

Let the points E, F, G be (at₁y², 2at₁), (at₂y², 2at₂), (at₃y², 2at₃) respectively. Since the ordinates of these points are in G.P., t₂² = t₁t₃. tangents at E and G are t₁y = x + at₁2 and t₃y = x + at₃². Eliminating y from these equation, we get x = at₁t₃ = at₂². Hence the point lies on the ordinates of F.
 

Illustration: 

Prove that the area of the triangle formed by three points on a parabola is twice the area of the triangle formed by the tangents at these points.

 

The intersection of the tangents, at these points, are the points 
(at₁, t₂, a(t₁ + t₂)}, {at₂t₃, a(t₂ + t₃)}, {at₃ t₁, a(t₃ + 1)}. 
The area of the Δ formed by these points=1/2 a2(t₁ – t₂) (t₂ – t₃) (t₃ – t₁). 
 

Equation of the Tangents from an External Point 

Let y = mx + a/m be any tangent to y² = 4ax passing through the point (x₁, y₁).

Then, we have

y₁ = mx + a/m or m₂x₁ – m₁ + a = 0

If m₁ and m₂ are to roots of (i) then

m₁ + m₂ = y₁/x₁ and m₁m₂ = a/x₁

Also the two tangents are y = m₁x + a/m₁ , and y = m₂x + a/m₂ 

⇒ Their combined equation is

(y – m₁x – a/m₁ ) (y – m₂x – a/m₂ ) = 0

On solving this we get

(y² – 4ax) (y₁² – 4ax₁) = [yy₁ – 2a (x + x₁)]²

⇒ SS₁ = T² Where S = y² – 4ax, S₁ = y₁² – 4x₁

Let y² = 4ax be the equation of a parabola and (x₁, y₁) an external point P. Then, equation of the tangents is given by

SS₁ = T², where S = y² – 4ax, S₁ = y₁² – 4ax₁, T = yy₁ – 2a(x + x₁).

If the tangents from the external point (x₁, y₁) touch the parabola at P and Q, then PQ is the chord of contact of the tangents. 

Illustration: 

Prove that through any given point (x₁, y₁) there pass, in general, two tangents to the parabola y² = 4ax.

Solution:

The equation to any tangent is y = mx + a/m. …… (1)

If this passes through the fixed point (x₁, y₁), we have

y₁ = mx₁ + a/m, i.e. m₂x₁ – m y₁ + a = 0. …… (2)

This is a quadratic equation and gives two values of m (real or imaginary). Corresponding to each value of m we have, two different tangents. The roots of (2) are real and different if y₁² – 4ax₁ > 0, i.e. If the point (x₁, y₁) lies outside the curve. The roots are equal, if y₁² – 4ax₁ = 0 i.e. if the point (x₁, y₁) lies on the curve. In this case the two tangent merge into one. The two roots are imaginary if y₁² – 4ax₁ < 0, i.e. if the point (x₁, y₁) lies within the curve.
 

Chord of Contact 

The chord joining the points of contact of the tangents on the parabola from an external point is called the chord of contact.

Let the tangent drawn from the point P(x₁, y₁) touch Parabola at Q(x₂, y₂) and R(x₃, y₃) then QR is the chord of contact of the point P(x₁, y₁) with 

respect to y²= 4ax.

The equation of tangents at Q and R are

yy₂ = 2a(x + x₂) …… (1) 

yy₃ = 2a(x + x₃) …… (2) 

Since (ii) and (iii) pass through (x₁, y₁) so we have

y₁y₂ = 2a(x₁ + x₂) …… (3) 

y₁y₃ = 2a(x₁ + x₃) …… (4) 

From (ii) and (iv) we find that the points Q(x₂, y₂) and R(x₃, y₃) lie on yy₁ = 2a (x₂+ x₁), which being of first degree in x and y represents a straight line. Hence the equation of the chord of contact of P(x₁, y₁) is 

yy₁ = 2a (x + x₁) and is of the form T = 0.

Equation of the chord of contact of the tangents drawn from a point (x₁, y₁) to the parabola y² = 4ax is T = 0, i.e. yy₁ – 2a(x + x₁) = 0. 
 

Point of intersection of tangents

The locus of point of intersection of tagent to the parabola y² = 4ax with angle between them as θ is given by y² – 4ax = (a + x)² tan²θ.

If this angle θ = 0° or 180°, then the locus is y² - 4ax = 0 which is actually the given parabola itself.

but, if θ = 90°, then the locus is x + a = 0 which is the equation of the directrix of the parabola. 

Note: 

The equation of the chord of the parabola y² = 4ax with mid point (x₁, y₁) is T = S₁. 

Illustration: 

Find the equation of the chord of the parabola y2 = 12x which is bisected at the point (5, –7).

Solution: 

Here (x₁, y₁) = (5, –7), and y² = 12x = 4ax ⇒ a = 3.

The equation of the chord is S₁ = T

or y₁² – 4ax₁ = yy₁ – 2a(x + x₁) or (–7)2 – 12.5 = y(–7) – 6 (x + 5). 

Or 6x + 7y + 19 = 0.
 

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