Chord midpoint locus

A question is this type if and only if it asks to find the locus of midpoints of parallel chords or chords with constant gradient on a conic.

3 questions · Challenging +1.3

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Edexcel F3 2022 June Q9
10 marks Standard +0.8
  1. The ellipse \(E\) has equation
$$\frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 9 } + \frac { y ^ { 2 } } { 4 } = 1$$ The line \(l\) has equation \(y = k x - 3\), where \(k\) is a constant.
Given that \(E\) and \(l\) meet at 2 distinct points \(P\) and \(Q\)
  1. show that the \(x\) coordinates of \(P\) and \(Q\) are solutions of the equation $$\left( 9 k ^ { 2 } + 4 \right) x ^ { 2 } - 54 k x + 45 = 0$$ The point \(M\) is the midpoint of \(P Q\)
  2. Determine, in simplest form in terms of \(k\), the coordinates of \(M\)
  3. Hence show that, as \(k\) varies, \(M\) lies on the curve with equation $$x ^ { 2 } + p y ^ { 2 } = q y$$ where \(p\) and \(q\) are constants to be determined.
Edexcel FP3 2014 June Q5
4 marks Challenging +1.8
  1. Given that \(y = \operatorname { artanh } \frac { x } { \sqrt { } \left( 1 + x ^ { 2 } \right) }\)
    show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { } \left( 1 + x ^ { 2 } \right) }\)
  2. \hspace{0pt} [In this question you may use the appropriate trigonometric identities on page 6 of the pink Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables.]
The points \(P ( 3 \cos \alpha , 2 \sin \alpha )\) and \(Q ( 3 \cos \beta , 2 \sin \beta )\), where \(\alpha \neq \beta\), lie on the ellipse with equation $$\frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 9 } + \frac { y ^ { 2 } } { 4 } = 1$$
  1. Show the equation of the chord \(P Q\) is $$\frac { x } { 3 } \cos \frac { ( \alpha + \beta ) } { 2 } + \frac { y } { 2 } \sin \frac { ( \alpha + \beta ) } { 2 } = \cos \frac { ( \alpha - \beta ) } { 2 }$$
  2. Write down the coordinates of the mid-point of \(P Q\). Given that the gradient, \(m\), of the chord \(P Q\) is a constant,
  3. show that the centre of the chord lies on a line $$y = - k x$$ expressing \(k\) in terms of \(m\).
Edexcel FP1 AS 2023 June Q3
5 marks Challenging +1.2
  1. The rectangular hyperbola \(H\) has equation \(x y = c ^ { 2 }\) where \(c\) is a positive constant.
The line \(l\) has equation \(x - 2 y = c\)
The points \(P\) and \(Q\) are the points of intersection of \(H\) and \(l\)
  1. Determine, in terms of \(c\), the coordinates of \(P\) and the coordinates of \(Q\) The point \(R\) is the midpoint of \(P Q\)
  2. Show that, as \(C\) varies, the coordinates of \(R\) satisfy the equation $$x y = - \frac { c ^ { 2 } } { a }$$ where \(a\) is a constant to be determined.