Confocal ellipse and hyperbola

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between a confocal ellipse and hyperbola, specifically focusing on the properties and equations of a hyperbola that passes through the foci of a given ellipse. Participants explore various methods to derive the hyperbola's equation and its foci based on the conditions provided.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that a hyperbola passing through the foci of the ellipse x^2/25 + y^2/16 = 1 has its transverse and conjugate axes aligned with the ellipse's major and minor axes, and seeks to find the hyperbola's equation and focus.
  • Another participant mentions an important property of confocal ellipses and hyperbolas, noting that they are orthogonal curves.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that the property of orthogonality is not necessary for solving the problem, proposing instead to find the differential equation for the ellipse and use it to derive the hyperbola's equation through integration.
  • Another method proposed involves calculating the eccentricity of the ellipse, determining the focus, and then using the product of eccentricities to find the hyperbola's equation.
  • A participant provides a specific calculation, stating that the eccentricity of the hyperbola is 5/3, and derives the hyperbola's equation as x^2/9 - y^2/9 = 1, with foci at ±5,0.
  • One participant comments on the complexity of coordinate geometry and the challenges it presents in utilizing given information effectively.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing methods for approaching the problem, with no consensus on the necessity of the orthogonality property or the best method to derive the hyperbola's equation. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the most effective approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on various assumptions about the properties of ellipses and hyperbolas, and the discussion includes unresolved mathematical steps related to the derivation of the hyperbola's equation.

Ananya0107
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If a hyperbola passes through the focii of the ellipse x^2/25 +y^2/16 =1 and its transverse and conjugate axes coincide respectively with major and minor axes of the ellipse, and if the product of eccentricities of hyperbola and ellipse is 1, find the equation and focus of the hyperbola
 
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There is a very important property regarding confocal ellipse and hyperbola.
"When ellipse and hyperbola are confocal, then they are orthogonal curves"
 
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But I don't think you need that property here. I was thinking about finding the differential equation for the ellipse and then substituting -dx/dy for dy/dx and then finding the curve equation for hyperbola by integrating. You can try it.
 
A second method is to find e for ellipse, then find focus, then the hyperbola equation by using the information of product of eccentricities.
 
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AdityaDev said:
But I don't think you need that property here. I was thinking about finding the differential equation for the ellipse and then substituting -dx/dy for dy/dx and then finding the curve equation for hyperbola by integrating. You can try it.
actually I was thinking too much ...:sorry: Eccentricity of the hyperbola = 5/3 from the question , and it passes through (±3, 0) , its equation therefore is x^2/9 - y^2/b^2 =1 where 1+ b^2/9 = 25/9 therefore equation of hyperbola is x^2/9 - y^2/9 = 1 and its focii are ±5,0
 
Coordinate geometry is one topic which tests how much properly you can use the given information. But there are very difficult questions in this topic.
 
True..
 

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