Two common tangents to the circle $x^2+y^2=2 a^2$ and parabola $y^2=8 a x$ are

Two common tangents to the circle $x^2+y^2=2 a^2$ and parabola $y^2=8 a x$ are
  1. $x=\pm(y+2 a)$
  2. $y=\pm(x+2 a)$
  3. $x=\pm(y+a)$
  4. $y=\pm(x+a)$

Solution

Any tangent to the parabola $y^2=8 a x$ is $ y=m x+\frac{2 a}{m} $ If (i) is a tangent to the circle, $x^2+y^2=2 a^2$ then, $\quad \sqrt{2} a=\pm \frac{2 a}{m \sqrt{m^2+1}}$ $ \Rightarrow m^2\left(1+m^2\right)=2 \Rightarrow\left(m^2+2\right)\left(m^2-1\right)=0 ; \Rightarrow m=\pm 1 $ So, $y=\pm(x+2 a)$

Asked in: JEE Main 2002

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