Edexcel FP3 Specimen — Question 9

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleFP3 (Further Pure Mathematics 3)
SessionSpecimen
TopicConic sections

9. The hyperbola \(C\) has equation \(\frac { x ^ { 2 } } { a ^ { 2 } } - \frac { y ^ { 2 } } { b ^ { 2 } } = 1\)
  1. Show that an equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(P ( a \sec \theta , b \tan \theta )\) is $$b y + a x \sin \theta = \left( a ^ { 2 } + b ^ { 2 } \right) \tan \theta$$ The normal at \(P\) cuts the coordinate axes at \(A\) and \(B\). The mid-point of \(A B\) is \(M\).
  2. Find, in cartesian form, an equation of the locus of \(M\) as \(\theta\) varies.
    (Total 13 marks)