The curve CC has parametric equations
x=2t2,y=4t.x = 2t^2, \quad y = 4t.

  1. (i)

    Find the equations of the tangent and normal to CC at the point with parameter pp.

  2. (ii)

    The normal at the point (18,−12)(18, -12) cuts CC again at the point QQ. Find the coordinates of QQ.

  3. (iii)

    Tangents are drawn from the point (−2,−3)(-2, -3) to CC. Show that the tangents are perpendicular.

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Worked solution

5(i)

1. Find the derivatives of $x$ and $y$ with respect to the parameter $t$.

dxdt=ddt(2t2)=4t\frac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}t} = \frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(2t^2) = 4t

dydt=ddt(4t)=4\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}t} = \frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(4t) = 4

2. Use the chain rule to find the gradient $\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}$ at $t = p$.

dydx=dydtdxdt=44t=1t\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \frac{\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}t}}{\frac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}t}} = \frac{4}{4t} = \frac{1}{t}

At t=pt=p, the gradient of the tangent is mt=1pm_t = \frac{1}{p}.

3. Formulate the equation of the tangent at $t = p$.

At t=pt=p, the point on the curve is (2p2,4p)(2p^2, 4p).
Using y−y1=m(x−x1)y - y_1 = m(x - x_1):
y−4p=1p(x−2p2)y - 4p = \frac{1}{p}(x - 2p^2)
py−4p2=x−2p2py - 4p^2 = x - 2p^2
py=x+2p2py = x + 2p^2

4. Find the gradient of the normal and formulate its equation.

The gradient of the normal mn=−1mt=−pm_n = -\frac{1}{m_t} = -p.
Equation of the normal:
y−4p=−p(x−2p2)y - 4p = -p(x - 2p^2)
y−4p=−px+2p3y - 4p = -px + 2p^3
y+px=2p3+4py + px = 2p^3 + 4p

Answer

Tangent: py=x+2p2py = x + 2p^2
Normal: y+px=2p3+4py + px = 2p^3 + 4p

5(ii)

1. Find the parameter corresponding to the given point.

At the point (18,−12)(18, -12),
4t=−12  ⟹  t=−34t = -12 \implies t = -3
(Check with xx-coordinate: 2(−3)2=182(-3)^2 = 18)

2. Find the equation of the normal at the point.

From part (i), or by differentiating:
dxdt=4t\frac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}t} = 4t, dydt=4  ⟹  dydx=1t\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}t} = 4 \implies \frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \frac{1}{t}
At t=−3t = -3, the gradient of the tangent is −13-\frac{1}{3}, so the gradient of the normal is 33.
Equation of the normal:
y−(−12)=3(x−18)y - (-12) = 3(x - 18)
y=3x−66y = 3x - 66

3. Find the parameter of the point where the normal intersects the curve again.

Substitute x=2t2x = 2t^2 and y=4ty = 4t into the normal equation:
4t=3(2t2)−664t = 3(2t^2) - 66
6t2−4t−66=06t^2 - 4t - 66 = 0
3t2−2t−33=03t^2 - 2t - 33 = 0
We know t=−3t = -3 is a root, so we can factorise:
(t+3)(3t−11)=0(t + 3)(3t - 11) = 0
Since QQ is the other intersection point, t=113t = \frac{11}{3}.

4. Calculate the coordinates of $Q$.

Substitute t=113t = \frac{11}{3} back into the parametric equations:
x=2(113)2=2429x = 2\left(\frac{11}{3}\right)^2 = \frac{242}{9}
y=4(113)=443y = 4\left(\frac{11}{3}\right) = \frac{44}{3}

Answer

Q(2429,443)Q\left(\frac{242}{9}, \frac{44}{3}\right)

5(iii)

1. Derive the general equation of the tangent at a point with parameter $p$ (as found in part (i)).

dxdt=4t\frac{dx}{dt} = 4t and dydt=4  ⟹  dydx=44t=1t\frac{dy}{dt} = 4 \implies \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{4}{4t} = \frac{1}{t}.
At parameter pp, the gradient is 1p\frac{1}{p} and the point is (2p2,4p)(2p^2, 4p).
The equation of the tangent is:
y−4p=1p(x−2p2)y - 4p = \frac{1}{p}(x - 2p^2)
py−4p2=x−2p2py - 4p^2 = x - 2p^2
py=x+2p2py = x + 2p^2

2. Substitute the point $(-2, -3)$ into the tangent equation to form a quadratic equation in $p$.

Since the tangents pass through (−2,−3)(-2, -3), substitute x=−2x = -2 and y=−3y = -3 into the general tangent equation:
p(−3)=−2+2p2p(-3) = -2 + 2p^2
2p2+3p−2=02p^2 + 3p - 2 = 0

3. Solve for $p$ to find the gradients of the two individual tangents.

(2p−1)(p+2)=0(2p - 1)(p + 2) = 0
p=12orp=−2p = \frac{1}{2} \quad \text{or} \quad p = -2
The gradients of the tangents are given by m=1pm = \frac{1}{p}:
m1=11/2=2m_1 = \frac{1}{1/2} = 2
m2=1−2=−12m_2 = \frac{1}{-2} = -\frac{1}{2}

4. Show that the two tangents are perpendicular.

Product of gradients =m1×m2=2×(−12)=−1= m_1 \times m_2 = 2 \times \left(-\frac{1}{2}\right) = -1.
Since the product of their gradients is −1-1, the tangents are perpendicular. (Shown)

Answer

Since m1m2=−1m_1 m_2 = -1, the tangents are perpendicular.

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