Consider the ellipse E given by x218+ y212=1. Let H be the hyperbola whose eccentricity is the reciprocal of the eccentricity of E and whose foci are the same as that of E. Let P and Q be the points of intersection of H and the parabola 5 y=x2 in the first quadrant. Let d be the distance between P and Q. If a and b are the integers such that d2=a+b 5, then the value of a-b is .
Answer
18
Solution
Ellipse: e2=1- 1218= 13, foci ( 6,0).
Hyperbola: e= 3, aH e= 6 aH2=2, bH2=aH2(e2-1)=4: x22- y24=1.
Put x2= 5y: 5y2- y24=1 y2-2 5y+4=0 y= 5 1, and x2=5 5.
d2= ( 5+ 5- 5- 5 )2+22=10-2 20+4=14-4 5.
a=14, b=-4 a-b=18.
Answer: 18