Parabola MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Parabola - Download Free PDF
Last updated on Apr 22, 2025
Latest Parabola MCQ Objective Questions
Parabola Question 1:
The common tangents to the circle x² + y² = 2 and the parabola y² = 8x touch the circle at the points P, Q and the parabola at the points R, S. Then the length of the diagonal PR of quadrilateral PQRS is ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 1 Detailed Solution
Calculation
For the parabola \(y^2 = 8x \), the equation of the tangent in slope form is:
\(y = mx + \frac{2}{m}, \)
where m is the slope of the tangent.
The tangent must also touch the circle \(x^2 + y^2 = 2 \)
The perpendicular distance of (0, 0) to the tangent \( y = mx + \frac{2}{m} \) should be equal to the radius of the circle √2.
The perpendicular distance d from the origin (0, 0) to the line \(y = mx + \frac{2}{m} \) is given by:
\(d = \frac{\left|0 - 0 + \frac{2}{m}\right|}{√{1 + m^2}} = \frac{\frac{2}{m}}{√{1 + m^2}}\)
⇒ \(\frac{\frac{2}{m}}{√{1 + m^2}} = √{2} \)
⇒ \(\frac{4}{m^2(1 + m^2)} = 2 \)
⇒ \(4 = 2m^2(1 + m^2) \)
⇒ \(2 = m^2(1 + m^2) \)
⇒ \(2 = m^2 + m^4 \)
⇒ \(m^4 + m^2 - 2 = 0. \)
Let \( z = m^2 \)
⇒ \(z^2 + z - 2 = 0 \)
⇒ (z + 2)(z - 1) = 0.
Thus z = 1 (since z = -2 is not valid for \(m^2 \))
⇒ \(m = \pm 1 \)
Equation of the common tangents
For m = 1, the tangent equation is:
⇒ y = x + 2.
For m = -1, the tangent equation is:
⇒ y = -x + 2.
These are the equations of the two direct common tangents.
Points of tangency on the circle
For y = x + 2:
Substitute y = x + 2 into \(x^2 + y^2 = 2 \)
\(x^2 + (x + 2)^2 = 2 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + x^2 + 4x + 4 = 2 \)
⇒ \(2x^2 + 4x + 2 = 0 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + 2x + 1 = 0 \)
⇒ \((x + 1)^2 = 0 \implies x = -1 \)
Substituting x = -1 into y = x + 2
⇒ y = -1 + 2 = 1
So, the point of tangency is (-1, 1).
For y = -x + 2
Substitute y = -x + 2 into \( x^2 + y^2 = 2 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + (-x + 2)^2 = 2 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + x^2 - 4x + 4 = 2 \)
⇒ \(2x^2 - 4x + 2 = 0 \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 2x + 1 = 0 \)
⇒ \((x - 1)^2 = 0 \implies x = -1 \)
Substituting x = -1 into y = -x + 2
⇒ y = -(-1) + 2 = -1
So, the point of tangency is (-1, -1).
Thus, the points of tangency on the circle are P(-1, 1) and Q(-1, -1)
Points of tangency on the parabola
Substitute the tangent equations into the parabola y^2 = 8x to find the points of tangency:
For y = x + 2:
Substitute y = x + 2 into \(y^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \((x + 2)^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 + 4x + 4 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0 \)
⇒ \((x - 2)^2 = 0 \implies x = 2 \)
Substituting x = 2 into y = x + 2
⇒ y = 2 + 2 = 4
So, the point of tangency is R(2, 4).
For y = -x + 2
Substitute y = -x + 2 into \( y^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \((-x + 2)^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 4x + 4 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 12x + 4 = 0 \)
⇒ \(x = 2, \quad y = -2 \)
So, the point of tangency is S(2, -4)
The vertices of the quadrilateral are
P(-1, 1), Q(-1, -1), R(2, 4), S(2, -4)
PR = \(√{(4-1)^2 +(2+1)^2} \) = 3√2
Hence Option(2) is the correct answer.
Parabola Question 2:
A chord is drawn through the focus of the parabola \(y^2=6x\) such that its distance from the vertex of this parabola is \(\dfrac {\sqrt 5}{2}\), then its slope can be :
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 2 Detailed Solution
Calculation
Let the equation chord be
\(y=mx+c\)
y2 = 6x
⇒ \(4a=6\implies a=1.5\)
Now as mentioned in the question, this line will pass from focus\((1.5,0)\).
Substitute this in equation we get \(1.5m+c=0\) ...(1)
Now Distance of this line from vertex is given to be \(\dfrac { \sqrt { 5 } }{ 2 } \) so using the formula of perpendicular distance of a line from a point, we get \(\dfrac { c }{ \sqrt { { m }^{ 2 }+1 } } =\dfrac { \sqrt { 5 } }{ 2 }\)
Taking square
\(\Rightarrow 4{ c }^{ 2 }=5{ m }^{ 2 }+5\) ...(2)
Solving both the equation we get \(m=\dfrac { \sqrt { 5 } }{ 2 }\)
Hence option 1 is correct
Parabola Question 3:
The common tangents to the circle x² + y² = 2 and the parabola y² = 8x touch the circle at the points P, Q and the parabola at the points R, S. Then the length of the diagonal PR of quadrilateral PQRS is ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 3 Detailed Solution
Calculation
For the parabola \(y^2 = 8x \), the equation of the tangent in slope form is:
\(y = mx + \frac{2}{m}, \)
where m is the slope of the tangent.
The tangent must also touch the circle \(x^2 + y^2 = 2 \)
The perpendicular distance of (0, 0) to the tangent \( y = mx + \frac{2}{m} \) should be equal to the radius of the circle √2.
The perpendicular distance d from the origin (0, 0) to the line \(y = mx + \frac{2}{m} \) is given by:
\(d = \frac{\left|0 - 0 + \frac{2}{m}\right|}{√{1 + m^2}} = \frac{\frac{2}{m}}{√{1 + m^2}}\)
⇒ \(\frac{\frac{2}{m}}{√{1 + m^2}} = √{2} \)
⇒ \(\frac{4}{m^2(1 + m^2)} = 2 \)
⇒ \(4 = 2m^2(1 + m^2) \)
⇒ \(2 = m^2(1 + m^2) \)
⇒ \(2 = m^2 + m^4 \)
⇒ \(m^4 + m^2 - 2 = 0. \)
Let \( z = m^2 \)
⇒ \(z^2 + z - 2 = 0 \)
⇒ (z + 2)(z - 1) = 0.
Thus z = 1 (since z = -2 is not valid for \(m^2 \))
⇒ \(m = \pm 1 \)
Equation of the common tangents
For m = 1, the tangent equation is:
⇒ y = x + 2.
For m = -1, the tangent equation is:
⇒ y = -x + 2.
These are the equations of the two direct common tangents.
Points of tangency on the circle
For y = x + 2:
Substitute y = x + 2 into \(x^2 + y^2 = 2 \)
\(x^2 + (x + 2)^2 = 2 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + x^2 + 4x + 4 = 2 \)
⇒ \(2x^2 + 4x + 2 = 0 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + 2x + 1 = 0 \)
⇒ \((x + 1)^2 = 0 \implies x = -1 \)
Substituting x = -1 into y = x + 2
⇒ y = -1 + 2 = 1
So, the point of tangency is (-1, 1).
For y = -x + 2
Substitute y = -x + 2 into \( x^2 + y^2 = 2 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + (-x + 2)^2 = 2 \)
⇒ \(x^2 + x^2 - 4x + 4 = 2 \)
⇒ \(2x^2 - 4x + 2 = 0 \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 2x + 1 = 0 \)
⇒ \((x - 1)^2 = 0 \implies x = -1 \)
Substituting x = -1 into y = -x + 2
⇒ y = -(-1) + 2 = -1
So, the point of tangency is (-1, -1).
Thus, the points of tangency on the circle are P(-1, 1) and Q(-1, -1)
Points of tangency on the parabola
Substitute the tangent equations into the parabola y^2 = 8x to find the points of tangency:
For y = x + 2:
Substitute y = x + 2 into \(y^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \((x + 2)^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 + 4x + 4 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0 \)
⇒ \((x - 2)^2 = 0 \implies x = 2 \)
Substituting x = 2 into y = x + 2
⇒ y = 2 + 2 = 4
So, the point of tangency is R(2, 4).
For y = -x + 2
Substitute y = -x + 2 into \( y^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \((-x + 2)^2 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 4x + 4 = 8x \)
⇒ \(x^2 - 12x + 4 = 0 \)
⇒ \(x = 2, \quad y = -2 \)
So, the point of tangency is S(2, -4)
The vertices of the quadrilateral are
P(-1, 1), Q(-1, -1), R(2, 4), S(2, -4)
PR = \(√{(4-1)^2 +(2+1)^2} \) = 3√2
Hence Option(2) is the correct answer.
Parabola Question 4:
The coordinate of the point at which the line 2x - y = 12 is normal to the parabola y2 = 4x, is
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 4 Detailed Solution
Explanation:
Given parabola
y2 = 4x
2yy' = 4
y' = 2/y
So, slope of the tangent is 2/y
Now, the line 2x - y = 12 is normal to the parabola y2 = 4x.
2x - y = 12 ⇒ y = 2x - 12
slope of the normal is 2
Therefore slope tangent to the parabola should be -1/2
Hence, \(\frac2y=-\frac12\)
i.e., y = -4
Since the point is passing through 2x - y = 12
So, putting y = - 4 we get
2x + 4 = 12
⇒ 2x = 8 ⇒ x = 4.
Hence required point (4, -4)
(4) is true.
Parabola Question 5:
The evaluate of the parabola y2 = 4ax is
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 5 Detailed Solution
Explanation:
Equation of parabola
y2 = 4ax
differentiating both sides w.r.t x
2yy' = 4a
y' = 2a/y...(i)
again differentiating
y'' = \(-{2a\over y^2}y'\) = \(-{2a\over y^2}.{2a\over y}=-{4a^2\over y^3}\)
The the coordinate of centre of curvature is
X = x - \(y'(1+y'^2)\over y''\)
Y = y + \((1+y'^2)\over y''\)
Substituting the values and simplifying we get
X = 3x + 2a ....(i) and
Y = \(-{2x^{3/2}\over \sqrt a}\)
⇒ Y2 = \(4x^3\over a\)
⇒ aY2 = 4x3
⇒ aY2 = \(4({X-2a\over 3})^3\) (using (i))
Simplifying we get
27aY2 = 4(X - 2a)2
Option (4) is true.
Top Parabola MCQ Objective Questions
The vertex of the parabola (y - 3)2 = 20(x - 1) is:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 6 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
Standard Form of the equation: | (y - k)2 = 4a(x - h) |
Equation of the Axis: | y = k |
Vertex: | (h, k) |
Focus: | (h + a, k) |
Directrix: | x = h - a |
Calculation:
Comparing the given equation (y - 3)2 = 20(x - 1) with the general equation of the parabola (y - k)2 = 4a(x - h), we can say that:
k = 3, a = 5, h = 1.
Vertex is (h, k) = (1, 3).
In the parabola y2 = x, what is the length of the chord passing through the vertex and inclined to the x-axis at an angle θ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 7 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
The coordinates of the point where the chord cut the parabola satisfIes the equation of a parabola.
Calculation:
Given:
The equation of a parabola is y2 = x.
The angle made by Chord OA with x-axis is θ
Let the length of the chord OA of the parabola is L
So, Length of AM = L sinθ
and Length of OM = L cosθ
So, The coordinate of A = (L cos θ, L sin θ)
And this point will satisfy the equation of parabola y2 = x.
⇒ (Lsin θ)2 = L cos θ
⇒L2 sin2 θ = L cos θ
⇒ L = cos θ. cosec2 θ
∴ The required length of chord is cos θ. cosec2 θ.
What is the focus of the parabola x2 = 16y ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 8 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
Parabola: The locus of a point which moves such that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed straight line. (Eccentricity = e =1)
Equation |
x2 = 4ay; |
Vertex |
(0, 0) |
Focus |
(0, a) |
Equation of the directrix |
y = -a |
Equation of the axis |
x = 0 |
Length of Latus rectum |
4a |
Focal distance |
y + a |
Calculation:
Given: x2 = 16y
⇒ x2 = 4 × 4 × y
Compare with standard equation of parabola x2 = 4ay
So, a = 4
Therefore, Focus = (0, a) = (0, 4)
For the parabolas y2 = 4ax and x2 = 4ay
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 9 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
Parabola: The locus of a point which moves such that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed straight line. (Eccentricity = e =1)
Equation |
y2 = 4ax |
x2 = 4ay |
Vertex |
(0, 0) |
(0, 0) |
Focus |
(a, 0) |
(0, a) |
Equation of the directrix |
x = -a |
y = -a |
Equation of the axis |
y = 0 |
x = 0 |
Equation of Latus rectum |
x = a |
y = a |
Length of Latus rectum |
4a |
4a |
Find the length of the latus rectum of the hyperbola x2 - y2 = 1 ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 10 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFCONCEPT:
The properties of a rectangular hyperbola \(\frac{{{x^2}}}{{{a^2}}} - \frac{{{y^2}}}{{{b^2}}} = 1\) are:
- Its centre is given by: (0, 0)
- Its foci are given by: (- ae, 0) and (ae, 0)
- Its vertices are given by: (- a, 0) and (a, 0)
- Its eccentricity is given by: \(e = \frac{{\sqrt {{a^2} + {b^2}} }}{a}\)
- Length of transverse axis = 2a and its equation is y = 0.
- Length of conjugate axis = 2b and its equation is x = 0.
- Length of its latus rectum is given by: \(\frac{2b^2}{a}\)
CALCULATION:
Given: Equation of hyperbola is x2 - y2 = 1
As we can see that, the given hyperbola is a horizontal hyperbola.
So, by comparing the given equation of hyperbola with \(\frac{{{x^2}}}{{{a^2}}} - \frac{{{y^2}}}{{{b^2}}} = 1\) we get
⇒ a = 1 and b = 1
As we know that, length of latus rectum of a hyperbola is given by \(\frac{2b^2}{a}\)
So, the length of latus rectum of given hyperbola is 2 units.
Hence, option D is the correct answer.
What is the focus of the parabola y2 = -12x ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 11 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
Parabola: The locus of a point which moves such that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed straight line. (Eccentricity = e =1)
Equation |
y2 = 4ax; |
Vertex |
(0, 0) |
Focus |
(a, 0) |
Equation of the directrix |
x = -a |
Equation of the axis |
y = 0 |
Length of Latus rectum |
4a |
Focal distance |
x + a |
Calculation:
Given: y2 = -12x
⇒ y2 = 4 × (-3) × x
Compare with standard equation of parabola y2 = 4ax
So, a = -3
Therefore, Focus = (a, 0) = (-3, 0)
Focus of the parabola y2 − 8x + 6y + 1 = 0 is
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 12 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
Latus rectum:
The latus rectum of a conic section is the chord (line segment) that passes through the focus, is perpendicular to the major axis, and has both endpoints on the curve.
- Length of Latus Rectum of Parabola y2 = 4ax is 4a
- End points of the latus rectum of a parabola are L = (a, 2a), and L’ = (a, -2a)
Calculation:
Given equation:
y2 − 8x + 6y + 1 = 0
⇒ y2 + 6y + 9 - 9 - 8x + 1 = 0
⇒ (y + 3)2 - 8x - 8 = 0
⇒ (y + 3)2 = 8x + 8
⇒ (y + 3)2 = 8 (x + 1)
Let new coordinate axes be X and Y,
Here X = x + 1 and Y = y + 3
⇒ Y2 = 4aX
Now comparing with above equation,
∴ 4a = 8 ⇒ a = 2
Focus: (a, 0)
X = a and Y = 0
⇒ x + 1 = 2 and y + 3 = 0
⇒ x = 1 and y = -3
∴ focus of parabola is (1, -3)
If parabola y2 = 4kx passes through point (-2, 1), then the length of latus rectum is:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 13 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
The length of the latus rectum of the parabola y2 = 4ax is 4a.
Calculations:
Given, the parabola y2 = 4kx passes through point (-2, 1),
⇒The point (-2, 1) is satisfying the equation of parabola y2 = 4kx
⇒ (1)2 = 4k (-2)
⇒ k = \(\rm \dfrac {-1}8\)
Now, the length of the latus rectum = 4k
⇒The length of latus rectum = 4(\(\rm \frac {-1}8\))
⇒The length of latus rectum = \(\frac {-1}{2}\)
The length of latus rectum can not be negative.
⇒The length of latus rectum = \(\frac {1}{2}\)
Hence, if parabola y2 = 4kx passes through the point (-2, 1), then the length of the latus rectum is \(\frac {1}{2}\).
Find the length of the latus rectum of the parabola y2 = - 12x ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 14 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFCONCEPT:
The following are the properties of a parabola of the form: y2 = - 4ax where a > 0
- Focus is given by (- a, 0)
- Vertex is given by (0, 0)
- Equation of directrix is given by: x = a
- Equation of axis is given by: y = 0
- Length of latus rectum is given by: 4a
- Equation of latus rectum is given by: x = - a
CALCULATION:
Given: Equation of parabola is y2 = - 12x
The given equation can be re-written as: y2 = - 4 ⋅ 3 ⋅ x---------(1)
Now by comparing the equation (1), with y2 = - 4ax we get
⇒ a = 3
As we know that, the length of latus rectum of a parabola is given by: 4a
So, length of latus rectum of the given parabola is: 4 ⋅ 3 = 12 units
Hence, option B is the correct answer.
The length of latus rectum of the parabola x2 = 20y ?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Parabola Question 15 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
Parabola: The locus of a point which moves such that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed straight line. (Eccentricity = e =1)
Equation |
x2 = 4ay; |
Vertex |
(0, 0) |
Focus |
(0, a) |
Equation of the directrix |
y = -a |
Equation of the axis |
x = 0 |
Length of Latus rectum |
4a |
Focal distance |
y + a |
Calculation:
Given: x2 = 20y
⇒ x2 = 4 × 5 × y
Compare with standard equation of parabola x2 = 4ay
So, 4a = 4 × 5
Therefore, Length of Latus rectum = 4a = 4 × 5 = 20