Maths > Parabola > 7.0 Parametric Co-ordinates

  Parabola
    1.0 Conic Section
    2.0 Parabola
    3.0 Standard equation of Parabola
    4.0 Focal distance of a point
    5.0 General equation of Parabola
    6.0 The generalized form of parabola: ${\left( {y - k} \right)^2} = 4a\left( {x - h} \right)$
    7.0 Parametric Co-ordinates
    8.0 Equation of tangent to a parabola
    9.0 Point of intersection of tangents at any two points on the parabola
    10.0 Equation of normal to the parabola
    11.0 Relation between parametric coefficients if normal meets parabola
    12.0 Important relations
    13.0 Circle through co-normal points
    14.0 Chord of contact

7.1 Parametric relation between the coordinates of the ends of a focal chord of parabola
Let ${y^2} = 4ax$ be a parabola, if $PQ$ be a focal chord as shown in figure. Parametric coordinates of point $P$ is $(a{t_1}^2,2a{t_1})$ and point $Q$ is $(a{t_2}^2,2a{t_2})$ with ${t_1}$ and ${t_2}$ as parameter respectively. $PQ$ passes through focus $S(a,0)$.

Therefore, $Q$, $S$ and $P$ are collinear.
Slope of a line joining points $P$ and $S$ $=$ Slope of line joining $Q$ and $S$
$$\frac{{2a{t_1} - 0}}{{a{t_1}^2 - a}} = \frac{{0 - 2a{t_2}}}{{a - a{t_2}^2}}$$ or, $$\frac{{2{t_1}}}{{{t_1}^2 - 1}} = \frac{{2{t_2}}}{{{t_2}^2 - 1}}$$ or, $${t_1}\left( {{t_2}^2 - 1} \right) = {t_2}\left( {{t_1}^2 - 1} \right)$$ $${t_1}{t_2}\left( {{t_2} - {t_1}} \right) + {t_2} - {t_1} = 0$$ $$({t_2} - {t_1})\left( {{t_1}{t_2} + 1} \right) = 0$$
Since, $${t_2} - {t_1} \ne 0$$ Therefore, $${t_1}{t_2} + 1 = 0$$ $${t_1}{t_2} = - 1$$ or, $${t_2} = \frac{{ - 1}}{{{t_1}}}$$
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