Q. The point of intersection of two tangents to the hyperbola $\frac{x^{2}}{a^{2}} - \frac{y^{2}}{b^{2}} = 1,$ the product of whose slope is $c^{2},\$ lies on the curve

A) $y^{2} - b^{2} = c^{2}\left( x^{2} + a^{2} \right)$
B) $y^{2} + a^{2} = c^{2}\left( x^{2} - b^{2} \right)$
C) $y^{2} + a^{2} = c^{2}\left( x^{2} - a^{2} \right)$
D) $y^{2} - a^{2} = c^{2}\left( x^{2} + b^{2} \right)$
Explanation

(c)
Let the slopes of the two tangents to the hyperbola
$\frac{x^{2}}{a^{2}} - \frac{y^{2}}{b^{2}} = 1$ be $cm$ and $\frac{c}{m}.$
The equations of tangents are
$y = cmx + \sqrt{a^{2}c^{2}m^{2} - b^{2}}$ …(i)
And $my - cx = \sqrt{a^{2}c^{2} - b^{2}m^{2}}$ …(ii)
On squaring and subtracting Eq. (ii) from Eq. (i), we get
$(y - cmx)^{2} - (my - cx)^{2} = a^{2}c^{2}m^{2} - b^{2} - a^{2}c^{2} + b^{2}m^{2}$
$\Rightarrow \left( 1 - m^{2} \right)\left( y^{2} - c^{2}x^{2} \right) = - \left( 1 - m^{2} \right)(a^{2}c^{2} + b^{2})$
$\Rightarrow \ \ y^{2} + b^{2} = c^{2}(x^{2} - a^{2})$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.

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