Edexcel FP1 2014 June — Question 7

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleFP1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Year2014
SessionJune
TopicConic sections

7. The parabola \(C\) has cartesian equation \(y ^ { 2 } = 4 a x , a > 0\) The points \(P \left( a p ^ { 2 } , 2 a p \right)\) and \(P ^ { \prime } \left( a p ^ { 2 } , - 2 a p \right)\) lie on \(C\).
  1. Show that an equation of the normal to \(C\) at the point \(P\) is $$y + p x = 2 a p + a p ^ { 3 }$$
  2. Write down an equation of the normal to \(C\) at the point \(P ^ { \prime }\). The normal to \(C\) at \(P\) meets the normal to \(C\) at \(P ^ { \prime }\) at the point \(Q\).
  3. Find, in terms of \(a\) and \(p\), the coordinates of \(Q\). Given that \(S\) is the focus of the parabola,
  4. find the area of the quadrilateral \(S P Q P ^ { \prime }\).