The line among the following which touches the parabola $y^2=4 a x$, is

The line among the following which touches the parabola $y^2=4 a x$, is
  1. $x+m y+a m^3=0$
  2. $x-m y+a m^2=0$
  3. $x+m y-a m^2=0$
  4. $y+m x+a m^2=0$

Solution

Given equation of parabola is $y^2=4 a x$ Let the equation of line be $y=m x+c$ If this line touches the parabola, then $\begin{aligned} & \qquad c=\frac{a}{m} \\ & \therefore \quad y=m x+\frac{a}{m} \Rightarrow m y=m^2 x+a \\ & \text { replacing } m \text { by } \frac{1}{m} \text {, we get } \\ & \quad m y=x+a m^2 \\ & \Rightarrow \quad x-m y+a m^2=0 \end{aligned}$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2005

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