Let A, B and C be the vertices of a variable right angled triangle inscribed in the parabola y2=16x. Let the vertex B containing the right angle be (4, 8) and the locus of the centroid of ABC be a conic C0. Then three times the length of latus rectum of C0 is .
Answer
16
Solution
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Points on y2=16x (a=4): (4t2, 8t ). B(4, 8) has t=1; let A (4t12, 8t1 ), C (4t22, 8t2 ).
Slope of chord joining t1, t2 = 8(t1-t2)4 (t12-t22 )= 2t1+t2
=90 : 2t1+1 2t2+1=-1 (t1+1)(t2+1)=-4
Let s=t1+t2: t1t2=-4-1-s=-5-s
Centroid (h, k): 3k=8+8s s+1= 3k8
3h=4+4 (t12+t22 )=4+4 (s2+2s+10 )=4(s+1)2+40
3h=4 9k264+40 k2= 163 (h- 403 )
0: y2= 163 (x- 403 ), a parabola with latus rectum 163
Three times the latus rectum =16
Answer: 16