Edexcel FP1 Specimen — Question 7

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleFP1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
SessionSpecimen
TopicConic sections

7. The parabola \(C\) has equation \(y ^ { 2 } = 4 a x\), where \(a\) is a constant. The point \(\left( 4 t ^ { 2 } , 8 t \right)\) is a general point on \(C\).
  1. Find the value of \(a\).
  2. Show that the equation for the tangent to \(C\) at the point \(\left( 4 t ^ { 2 } , 8 t \right)\) is $$y t = x + 4 t ^ { 2 } .$$ The tangent to \(C\) at the point \(A\) meets the tangent to \(C\) at the point \(B\) on the directrix of \(C\) when \(y = 15\).
  3. Find the coordinates of \(A\) and the coordinates of \(B\).