A line L passing through the point $\mathrm{P}(-5,-4)$ cuts the line $x-y-5=0$ and $x+3 y+2=0$ respectively…

A line L passing through the point $\mathrm{P}(-5,-4)$ cuts the line $x-y-5=0$ and $x+3 y+2=0$ respectively at Q and R such that $\frac{18}{P Q}+\frac{15}{P R}=2$, then slope of the line $L$ is
  1. $\pm 1$
  2. $\pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$
  3. $\pm \sqrt{3}$
  4. $\pm \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}$

Solution

Equation of line passing through $\mathrm{P}(-5,-4)$ and making angle $\theta$ with $x$-axis is $\frac{x+5}{\cos \theta}=\frac{y+4}{\sin \theta}=r$ $\Rightarrow x=-5+r \cos \theta, y=-4+r \sin \theta$ Equation of line PQ where Q lies on $x-y-5=0$ is $-5+P Q \cos \theta+4-P Q \sin \theta-5=0$ $\Rightarrow \frac{6}{\mathrm{PQ}}=\cos \theta-\sin \theta$ ...(i) Equation of line PR where R lies on $x+3 y+2=0$ is $-5+P R \cos \theta-12+3 P R \sin \theta+2=0$ $\Rightarrow \frac{15}{P R}=\cos \theta+3 \sin \theta$
Given condition is $\frac{18}{P Q}+\frac{15}{P R}=2$ Using (i) and (ii) $\begin{aligned} & 3 \cos \theta-3 \sin \theta+\cos \theta+3 \sin \theta=2 \\ & \Rightarrow 4 \cos \theta=2 \Rightarrow \cos \theta=\frac{1}{2} \Rightarrow \theta=2 n \pi \pm \frac{\pi}{3} \end{aligned}$
So, slope of the line is $\tan \theta=\tan \left(2 n \pi \pm \frac{\pi}{3}\right)= \pm \sqrt{3}$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2024 (22 May Shift 2)

Practice more Straight Lines questions on Aicharya