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 ?

  1. 2√2 
  2. 3√ 2
  3. 4√2 
  4. 5√2 
  5. None of the above

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 3√ 2

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 :

  1. \(\dfrac {\sqrt 5}{2}\)
  2. \(\dfrac {\sqrt 3}{2}\)
  3. \(\dfrac {2}{\sqrt 5}\)
  4. \(\dfrac {2}{\sqrt 3}\)
  5. \(\dfrac {9}{\sqrt 5}\)

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : \(\dfrac {\sqrt 5}{2}\)

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 ?

  1. 2√2 
  2. 3√ 2
  3. 4√2 
  4. 5√2 
  5. 6√2 

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 3√ 2

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

  1. (9, 6)
  2. (9, -6)
  3. (4, 4)
  4. (4, -4)
  5. (3, 3)

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : (4, -4)

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

  1. 27ay2 = 4(x + 3a)2
  2. 27ay2 = 4(x - 3a)2
  3. 27ay2 = 4(x + 2a)2
  4. 27ay2 = 4(x - 2a)2
  5. 27ay2 = 4(x - 4a)2

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 27ay2 = 4(x - 2a)2

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:

  1. (-3, -1)
  2. (5, 0)
  3. (1, 3)
  4. (0, 5)

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : (1, 3)

Parabola Question 6 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

Parabola:
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?

  1. sin θ ⋅ sec2 θ
  2. cos θ . cosec2 θ
  3. cot θ ⋅ sec2 θ
  4. 2 tan θ ⋅ cosec2 θ

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : cos θ . cosec2 θ

Parabola Question 7 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

The coordinates of the point where the chord cut the parabola satisfIes  the equation of a parabola.

Calculation:

 F1 Shraddha Amar 14.01.2022 D6 

Given:

The equation of a parabola is y= 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 y= x.

⇒ (Lsin θ)= L cos θ

⇒L2 sinθ = 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 ?

  1. (4, 0)
  2. (0, 4)
  3. (0, -4)
  4. (4, 4)

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : (0, 4)

Parabola Question 8 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

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 

  1. Vertex are same
  2. Foci are same
  3. Directrix are same
  4. None of the above

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : Vertex are same

Parabola Question 9 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

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 ?

  1. 8
  2. 10
  3. 6
  4. 2

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 2

Parabola Question 10 Detailed Solution

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CONCEPT:

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 ?

  1. (3, 0)
  2. (0, 0)
  3. (-3, 0)
  4. (0, -3)

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : (-3, 0)

Parabola Question 11 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

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

  1. (2, 0)
  2. (1, -3)
  3. (8, 0)
  4. None of the above

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : (1, -3)

Parabola Question 12 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

F2 Aman 29.4.20 Pallavi D1

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:

  1. \(\frac 12\)
  2. \(\frac 13\)
  3. \(\frac 14\)
  4. None of these

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : \(\frac 12\)

Parabola Question 13 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

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)= 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 ?

  1. 8
  2. 12
  3. 10
  4. None of these

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 12

Parabola Question 14 Detailed Solution

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CONCEPT:

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 ?

  1. 5
  2. 16
  3. 20
  4. 10

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 20

Parabola Question 15 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

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

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