If the straight line $y=m x+c$ touches the parabola $y^2-4 a x+4 a^3=0$, then $c$ is

If the straight line $y=m x+c$ touches the parabola $y^2-4 a x+4 a^3=0$, then $c$ is
  1. $a m+\frac{a}{m}$
  2. $a m-\frac{a}{m}$
  3. $\frac{a}{m}+a^2 m$
  4. $\frac{a}{m}-a^2 m$

Solution

Solving the given equations, $ \begin{aligned} &(m x+c)^2=4 a x-4 a^3 \\ & \Rightarrow m^2 x^2+2 m c \cdot x+c^2=4 a x-4 a^3 \\ & \Rightarrow m^2 x^2+(2 m c-4 a) x+c^2+4 a^3=0 \end{aligned} $ Since the straight line touches the parabola at a point, so, the discriminant $=0$ $ \begin{aligned} & \Rightarrow \quad(2 m c-4 a)^2-4 m^2\left(c^2+4 a^3\right)=0 \\ & \Rightarrow 4 m^2 c^2-16 a m c+16 a^2-4 m^2 c^2-16 a^3 m^2=0 \\ & \Rightarrow-m c+a-a^2 m^2=0 \\ & \Rightarrow m c=a-a^2 m^2 \Rightarrow c=\frac{a}{m}-a^2 m \end{aligned} $

Asked in: BITSAT 2022

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