The distance between the tangent lines to the hyperbola $x^2-2 y^2=18$ which are perpendicular to the line…

The distance between the tangent lines to the hyperbola $x^2-2 y^2=18$ which are perpendicular to the line $y=x$ is
  1. 6
  2. $2 \sqrt{3}$
  3. $3 \sqrt{2}$
  4. 0

Solution

The line perpendicular to line $y=x$ is $ y=-x+c \text { or } x+y-c=0 $ Given, hyperbola is $x^2-2 y^2=18$ or $\quad \frac{x^2}{18}-\frac{y^2}{9}=1$ Here, $a^2=18, b^2=9$ Condition for tangency of hyperbola is $ \begin{aligned} & c^2=a^2 m^2-b^2 \\ & c^2=18 \times(-1)^2-9 \\ & c^2=9 \Rightarrow c=+3 \end{aligned} $ Equation of tangents are $ x+y \pm 3=0 $ $ \begin{aligned} \text { Distance between tangent } & =\frac{|6|}{\sqrt{1^2+1^2}} \\ & =\frac{6}{\sqrt{2}} \text { or } 3 \sqrt{2} \text { units } \end{aligned} $

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2022 (06 Jul Shift 2)

Practice more Hyperbola questions on Aicharya