Tangent and Normal to an Ellipse

IMPORTANT

Tangent and Normal to an Ellipse: Overview

This topic covers concepts such as Shortest Distance between Line and Ellipse, Tangent to Ellipse, Point Form of Tangent to Standard Ellipse, Parametric Form of Tangent to Standard Ellipse, and Point of Intersection of Tangents in Parametric Form.

Important Questions on Tangent and Normal to an Ellipse

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IMPORTANT

The equation of the normal at the point (2,3) to the ellipse 9x2+16y2=180 is 

MEDIUM
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Equations of the common tangent of the ellipse (x+1)222+(y-1)232=1 and the circle (x+1)2+(y-1)2=4 are

MEDIUM
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The product of the perpendiculars drawn from the foci of the ellipse x29+y225=1 upon the tangent to it at the point 32,532, is

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Equation of the ellipse with axes coinciding the co-ordinate axes touches the straight lines 3x - 2y - 20=0 and x + 6y - 20=0 , is:

EASY
IMPORTANT

The number of values of 'c' such that the straight line y=4x+c touches the curve x24+y2=1, is

MEDIUM
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If the normal at an end of a latus rectum of an ellipse passes through one extremity of the minor axis, then the eccentricity of the ellipse is given by

MEDIUM
IMPORTANT

The equation of the tangents to the ellipse 9x2+ 16y2=144 from the point 2, 3 are -

HARD
IMPORTANT

Equation of the ellipse with axes coinciding the co-ordinate axes touches the straight lines 3x - 2y - 20=0 and x + 6y - 20=0 , is:

MEDIUM
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Equation of tangents to the ellipse x29+y24=1, which are perpendicular to the line 3x+4y=7, are

MEDIUM
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The area (in sq. units) of the quadrilateral formed by the tangents at the end points of the latus ractum to the ellipse x29+y25=1, is

EASY
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Consider the curve x2a2+y2b2=1. The portion of the tangent at any point of the curve intercepted between the point of contact and the directrix subtends at the corresponding focus an angle of

MEDIUM
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The length of the minor axis (along y-axis) of an ellipse in the standard form is 43. If this ellipse touches the line, x+6y=8; then its eccentricity is:

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Let the line y=mx and the ellipse 2x2+y2=1 intersect at a point P in the first quadrant. If the normal to this ellipse at P meets the co-ordinate axes at -132,0 and 0,β, then β is equal to

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The equation of the tangent to the ellipse 5x2+9y2=45, and perpendicular to the line 3x+2y+1=0 is

EASY
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Consider a tangent to the ellipse x22+y21=1 at any point. The locus of the mid-point of the portion intercepted between the axes is

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The product of the perpendicular distances drawn from the points (3,0) and (-3,0) to the tangent of an ellipse x236+y227=1 at 3,92 is

HARD
IMPORTANT

For the ellipse x218+y232=1, if a tangent with slope -43 intersects the major and minor axes at P and Q respectively, find P and Q

MEDIUM
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Find the condition for the line ax+by+c=0 to be a normal to an ellipse x24+y236=1

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Slope of normal to the ellipse at a point P is 34 and eccentricity of ellipse is 13. If this normal makes acute angle β with its focal chord through P, then sinβ is

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IMPORTANT

Let the ellipse, x2a2+y2b2=1, a>b, pass through the point (2,3) and have eccentricity equal to 12. Then equation of the normal to this ellipse at (2,3) is