Find the equation of the hyperbola where foci are (0, +-6) and the length of the latus rectum is 36.

Answer: The equation of the hyperbola is y2198−5413−x2−162+5413=1\frac{y^2}{198 - 54\sqrt{13}} - \frac{x^2}{-162 + 54\sqrt{13}} = 1.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Identify key parameters from foci

The given foci of the hyperbola are (0,±6)(0, \pm 6). For a hyperbola with foci on the yy -axis, the standard form of the foci is (0,±c)(0, \pm c). By comparing these, we can determine the value of cc.

Step 2: Use latus rectum length to find a relationship between a and b

The length of the latus rectum for a hyperbola is given by the formula 2b2a\frac{2b^2}{a}. We are given that the length of the latus rectum is 3636. We can set up an equation using this information to find a relationship between a2a^2 and b2b^2.

Step 3: Apply the relationship between a, b, and c

For a hyperbola, the relationship between aa, bb, and cc is c2=a2+b2c^2 = a^2 + b^2. We can substitute the value of cc and the expression for b2b^2 from the previous steps into this equation to form a quadratic equation in terms of aa.

Step 4: Solve the quadratic equation for a

We solve the quadratic equation a2+18a−36=0a^2 + 18a - 36 = 0 for aa using the quadratic formula. Since aa represents a length, it must be a positive value. We select the positive root from the two solutions.

Step 5: Calculate a2a^2 and b2b^2

Now that we have the value of aa, we can calculate a2a^2. Then, using the relationship b2=18ab^2 = 18a from step 2, we can find the value of b2b^2.

Step 6: Write the equation of the hyperbola

Since the foci are on the yy -axis, the standard equation of the hyperbola is y2a2−x2b2=1\frac{y^2}{a^2} - \frac{x^2}{b^2} = 1. We substitute the calculated values of a2a^2 and b2b^2 into this equation to get the final equation of the hyperbola.

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