The locus of a point $P(\alpha, \beta)$ moving under the condition that the line $y=\alpha x+\beta$ is a…

The locus of a point $P(\alpha, \beta)$ moving under the condition that the line $y=\alpha x+\beta$ is a tangent to the hyperbola $\frac{x^2}{a^2}-\frac{y^2}{b^2}=1$ is
  1. an ellipse
  2. a circle
  3. a parabola
  4. a hyperbola

Solution

Tangent to the hyperbola $\frac{x^2}{a^2}-\frac{y^2}{b^2}=1$ is $y=m x \pm \sqrt{a^2 m^2-b^2}$ Given that $y=\alpha x+\beta$ is the tangent of hyperbola $\Rightarrow m=\alpha$ and $a^2 m^2-b^2=\beta^2$ $\therefore \mathrm{a}^2 \alpha^2-\mathrm{b}^2=\beta^2$ Locus is $a^2 x^2-y^2=b^2$ which is hyperbola.

Asked in: JEE Main 2005

Practice more Hyperbola questions on Aicharya