Edexcel FP1 2017 June — Question 7

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleFP1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Year2017
SessionJune
TopicConic sections

7. The parabola \(C\) has equation \(y ^ { 2 } = 4 a x\), where \(a\) is a constant and \(a > 0\) The point \(Q \left( a q ^ { 2 } , 2 a q \right) , q > 0\), lies on the parabola \(C\).
  1. Show that an equation of the tangent to \(C\) at \(Q\) is $$q y = x + a q ^ { 2 }$$ The tangent to \(C\) at the point \(Q\) meets the \(x\)-axis at the point \(X \left( - \frac { 1 } { 4 } a , 0 \right)\) and meets the directrix of \(C\) at the point \(D\).
  2. Find, in terms of \(a\), the coordinates of \(D\). Given that the point \(F\) is the focus of the parabola \(C\),
  3. find the area, in terms of \(a\), of the triangle \(F X D\), giving your answer in its simplest form.