The length of the chord of the ellipse x24+y22=1\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{y^2}{2} = 1, whose mid-point is (1,12)\left(1, \frac{1}{2}\right), is:

Answer: The length of the chord is 113\sqrt{\frac{11}{3}}.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Equation of the chord with a given midpoint

The equation of a chord of an ellipse with a given midpoint (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) can be found using the formula T=S1T = S_1. Here, TT represents the tangent equation at (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) and S1S_1 represents the value of the ellipse equation when (x,y)(x, y) is replaced by (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1). The given ellipse is x24+y22=1\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{y^2}{2} = 1, and the midpoint is (1,12)\left(1, \frac{1}{2}\right).

Step 2: Calculate T and S1

Substitute x1=1x_1 = 1 and y1=12y_1 = \frac{1}{2} into the expressions for TT and S1S_1. The equation for TT is xx14+yy12−1\frac{xx_1}{4} + \frac{yy_1}{2} - 1, and for S1S_1 it is x124+y122−1\frac{x_1^2}{4} + \frac{y_1^2}{2} - 1.

Step 3: Simplify the chord equation

Simplify both sides of the equation. The left side becomes x4+y4−1\frac{x}{4} + \frac{y}{4} - 1. The right side becomes 14+18−1=2+1−88=−58\frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{8} - 1 = \frac{2+1-8}{8} = -\frac{5}{8}. So, x4+y4−1=−58\frac{x}{4} + \frac{y}{4} - 1 = -\frac{5}{8}. Adding 1 to both sides gives x4+y4=1−58=38\frac{x}{4} + \frac{y}{4} = 1 - \frac{5}{8} = \frac{3}{8}. Multiplying by 8 gives 2x+2y=32x + 2y = 3. This is the equation of the chord.

Step 4: Find intersection points of the chord and ellipse

To find the length of the chord, we need its endpoints. We can find these by solving the equation of the chord (2x+2y=3  ⟹  y=3−2x22x + 2y = 3 \implies y = \frac{3-2x}{2}) simultaneously with the equation of the ellipse x24+y22=1\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{y^2}{2} = 1. Substitute the expression for yy from the chord equation into the ellipse equation.

Step 5: Solve for x-coordinates of intersection points

Simplify the equation: x24+9−12x+4x28=1\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{9 - 12x + 4x^2}{8} = 1. Multiply by 8 to clear denominators: 2x2+9−12x+4x2=82x^2 + 9 - 12x + 4x^2 = 8. Rearrange into a quadratic equation: 6x2−12x+1=06x^2 - 12x + 1 = 0. Let the roots be x1x_1 and x2x_2.

Step 6: Solve for y-coordinates of intersection points

Similarly, we can express xx in terms of yy from the chord equation: x=3−2y2x = \frac{3-2y}{2}. Substitute this into the ellipse equation: (3−2y2)24+y22=1\frac{(\frac{3-2y}{2})^2}{4} + \frac{y^2}{2} = 1. This simplifies to 6y2−6y+1=06y^2 - 6y + 1 = 0. Let the roots be y1y_1 and y2y_2.

Step 7: Calculate the length of the chord

The length of the chord LL is given by the distance formula. For the quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0ax^2+bx+c=0, (x2−x1)2=(x1+x2)2−4x1x2=(−b/a)2−4(c/a)(x_2-x_1)^2 = (x_1+x_2)^2 - 4x_1x_2 = ( -b/a )^2 - 4(c/a). For 6x2−12x+1=06x^2 - 12x + 1 = 0, x1+x2=12/6=2x_1+x_2 = 12/6 = 2 and x1x2=1/6x_1x_2 = 1/6. So (x2−x1)2=(2)2−4(1/6)=4−2/3=10/3(x_2-x_1)^2 = (2)^2 - 4(1/6) = 4 - 2/3 = 10/3. For 6y2−6y+1=06y^2 - 6y + 1 = 0, y1+y2=6/6=1y_1+y_2 = 6/6 = 1 and y1y2=1/6y_1y_2 = 1/6. So (y2−y1)2=(1)2−4(1/6)=1−2/3=1/3(y_2-y_1)^2 = (1)^2 - 4(1/6) = 1 - 2/3 = 1/3. Therefore, L=103+13=113L = \sqrt{\frac{10}{3} + \frac{1}{3}} = \sqrt{\frac{11}{3}}.

More from this chapter

All Conic Sections solutions →

Solve your own maths question free →