The slopes of the focal chords of the parabola $y^2=32 x$, which are tangents to the circle $x^2+y^2=4$, are

The slopes of the focal chords of the parabola $y^2=32 x$, which are tangents to the circle $x^2+y^2=4$, are
  1. $\frac{1}{2}, \frac{-1}{2}$
  2. $\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}, \frac{-1}{\sqrt{3}}$
  3. $\frac{1}{\sqrt{15}}, \frac{-1}{\sqrt{15}}$
  4. $\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}, \frac{-2}{\sqrt{5}}$

Solution

Given equation of circle is $ x^2+y^2=(2)^2 $ $\therefore$ The equation of tangent to the circle is $ y=m x \pm 2 \sqrt{1+m^2}\left(\because y=m x \pm r \sqrt{1+m^2}\right) $ Also, equation of parabola is $ y^2=32 x $ $\therefore$ Focus of parabola is $(8,0)$. Since, the line passes through focus $(8,0)$. $ \begin{aligned} & \therefore \quad 0=8 m \pm 2 \sqrt{1+m^2} \\ & \Rightarrow \quad-4 m= \pm \sqrt{1+m^2} \\ & \Rightarrow \quad 16 m^2=1+m^2 \\ & \Rightarrow \quad 15 m^2=1 \\ & \Rightarrow \quad m^2=\frac{1}{15} \\ & \Rightarrow \quad m= \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{15}} \\ & \end{aligned} $

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2014

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