Consider the circle C : x2 + y2 = 4 and the parabola P : y2 = 8x. If the set of all values of , for which three chords of the circle C on three distinct lines passing through the point ( , 0) are bisected by the parabola P is the interval (p, q), then (2q - p)2 is equal to .
Answer
80
Solution
Let a chord of C have its mid-point M(2t2, 4t) on P. Chord with mid-point (h, k) (T = S1): hx + ky = h2 + k2
2t2x + 4ty = 4t4 + 16t2; it passes through ( , 0), so 2t2 = 4t4 + 16t2
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t = 0 (M = O) gives the x-axis, one chord. For t 0: = 2t2 + 8, and t give the other two distinct chords.
M must lie inside C: 4t4 + 16t2 < 4 t4 + 4t2 - 1 < 0 0 < t2 < 5 - 2
8 < < 8 + 2 ( 5 - 2 ) = 4 + 2 5
So p = 8, q = 4 + 2 5, hence (2q - p)2 = (4 5 )2 = 80
Answer: 80