Parabola normal equation derivation

A question is this type if and only if it asks to show or derive the equation of a normal to a parabola y²=4ax at a general point, typically using calculus.

6 questions · Standard +0.6

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Edexcel F1 2024 January Q7
7 marks Standard +0.8
  1. The parabola \(C\) has equation \(y ^ { 2 } = \frac { 4 } { 3 } x\)
The point \(P \left( \frac { 1 } { 3 } t ^ { 2 } , \frac { 2 } { 3 } t \right)\), where \(t \neq 0\), lies on \(C\).
  1. Use calculus to show that the normal to \(C\) at \(P\) has equation $$3 t x + 3 y = t ^ { 3 } + 2 t$$ The normal to \(C\) at the point where \(t = 9\) meets \(C\) again at the point \(Q\).
  2. Determine the exact coordinates of \(Q\).
Edexcel FP1 2012 January Q3
8 marks Moderate -0.3
3. A parabola \(C\) has cartesian equation \(y ^ { 2 } = 16 x\). The point \(P \left( 4 t ^ { 2 } , 8 t \right)\) is a general point on \(C\).
  1. Write down the coordinates of the focus \(F\) and the equation of the directrix of \(C\).
  2. Show that the equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(P\) is \(y + t x = 8 t + 4 t ^ { 3 }\).
Edexcel FP1 2009 June Q6
11 marks Standard +0.3
6. The parabola \(C\) has equation \(y ^ { 2 } = 16 x\).
  1. Verify that the point \(P \left( 4 t ^ { 2 } , 8 t \right)\) is a general point on \(C\).
  2. Write down the coordinates of the focus \(S\) of \(C\).
  3. Show that the normal to \(C\) at \(P\) has equation $$y + t x = 8 t + 4 t ^ { 3 }$$ The normal to \(C\) at \(P\) meets the \(x\)-axis at the point \(N\).
  4. Find the area of triangle \(P S N\) in terms of \(t\), giving your answer in its simplest form.
Edexcel FP1 2014 June Q7
11 marks Standard +0.8
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 \(S P Q P ^ { \prime }\).
Edexcel F1 2021 June Q6
16 marks Standard +0.8
6. The parabola \(C\) has Cartesian equation \(y ^ { 2 } = 8 x\) The point \(P \left( 2 p ^ { 2 } , 4 p \right)\) and the point \(Q \left( 2 q ^ { 2 } , 4 q \right)\), where \(p , q \neq 0 , p \neq q\), are points on \(C\).
  1. Show that an equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(P\) is $$y + p x = 2 p ^ { 3 } + 4 p$$
  2. Write down an equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(Q\) The normal to \(C\) at \(P\) and the normal to \(C\) at \(Q\) meet at the point \(N\)
  3. Show that \(N\) has coordinates $$\left( 2 \left( p ^ { 2 } + p q + q ^ { 2 } + 2 \right) , - 2 p q ( p + q ) \right)$$ The line \(O N\), where \(O\) is the origin, is perpendicular to the line \(P Q\)
  4. Find the value of \(( p + q ) ^ { 2 } - 3 p q\)
Edexcel FP1 AS 2021 June Q5
10 marks Challenging +1.2
  1. The point \(P \left( a p ^ { 2 } , 2 a p \right)\), where \(a\) is a positive constant, lies on the parabola with equation
$$y ^ { 2 } = 4 a x$$ The normal to the parabola at \(P\) meets the parabola again at the point \(Q \left( a q ^ { 2 } , 2 a q \right)\)
  1. Show that $$q = \frac { - p ^ { 2 } - 2 } { p }$$
  2. Hence show that $$P Q ^ { 2 } = \frac { k a ^ { 2 } } { p ^ { 4 } } \left( p ^ { 2 } + 1 \right) ^ { n }$$ where \(k\) and \(n\) are integers to be determined.