# It seems that something is wrong either with this proof or my understanding.

1. Oct 23, 2011

### vkash

Here i am asking all the things about parabola. I think something is wrong with proof where we prove condition of tangency.
It is done shown(in my book)
$y^2=4ax$ //equation of general parabola
let us assume that line $y=mx+c$ is passing through parabola.
points where it will cut parabola.
$(mx+c)^2=4ax$
solving this equation.
$(mx)^2+x(2mc-4a)+c^2=0$
line will touch parabola at one point if of the roots of this equation are equal.
It means it’s discriminant is zero.
$(2mc-4a)^2-4m^2c^2=0$
=> $16a^2=16amc$
$a=0$; not possible because in that case it will not remain a parabola it became a line y=0.
$a=mc$
this is the require condition for the line to cut the parabola at one point.
So lets take an example.
$y=2$. this line cuts the parabola $y^2-4x=0$ at one point. as we can see on the graphs
but does it obey the equation proved previously.
a=0/2. NO. it is not obeying that equation.
WHY????????????????????????????????????????
the condition is for line to cut the parabola at one point.y=2 is also a line that cuts parabola at one point but not obeying the condition.

Last edited: Oct 23, 2011
2. Oct 23, 2011

### Citan Uzuki

To conclude that this equation is a quadratic you need to know that m≠0. If m=0, then this is just a linear equation and will have exactly one solution regardless of what the discriminant is. Since your given line does in fact have m=0, the discriminant need not be zero, and so a is not necessarily equal to mc.

3. Oct 24, 2011

### vkash

great!!
problem solved.