Related Formula
T = S₁$T = S_1$
Equation of chord with a given midpoint (x₁, y₁)$(x_1, y_1)$ for an ellipse (x²)/(a²) + (y²)/(b²) = 1$\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1$ is:
(x x₁)/(a²) + (y y₁)/(b²) = (x₁²)/(a²) + (y₁²)/(b²)$$\frac{x x_1}{a^2} + \frac{y y_1}{b^2} = \frac{x_1^2}{a^2} + \frac{y_1^2}{b^2}$$
Core Logic
Given the ellipse (x²)/(25) + (y²)/(16) = 1$\frac{x^2}{25} + \frac{y^2}{16} = 1$ and midpoint (x₁, y₁) = (1, (2)/(5))$(x_1, y_1) = (1, \frac{2}{5})$.
Substitute these into the T = S₁$T = S_1$ formula:
(x(1))/(25) + (y(2/5))/(16) = (1²)/(25) + ((2/5)²)/(16)$$\frac{x(1)}{25} + \frac{y(2/5)}{16} = \frac{1^2}{25} + \frac{(2/5)^2}{16}$$
(x)/(25) + (y)/(40) = (1)/(25) + (4/25)/(16)$$\frac{x}{25} + \frac{y}{40} = \frac{1}{25} + \frac{4/25}{16}$$
(8x + 5y)/(200) = (1)/(25) + (1)/(100)$$\frac{8x + 5y}{200} = \frac{1}{25} + \frac{1}{100}$$
(8x + 5y)/(200) = (5)/(100) = (10)/(200)$$\frac{8x + 5y}{200} = \frac{5}{100} = \frac{10}{200}$$
This simplifies to the chord equation:
8x + 5y = 10 ⇒ y = (10 - 8x)/(5)$$8x + 5y = 10 \Rightarrow y = \frac{10 - 8x}{5}$$
Step 1: Finding Points of Intersection
Substitute the chord equation back into the ellipse equation to find intersection coordinates:
(x²)/(25) + (((10 - 8x)/(5))²)/(16) = 1$$\frac{x^2}{25} + \frac{(\frac{10 - 8x}{5})^2}{16} = 1$$
(x²)/(25) + ((10 - 8x)²)/(400) = 1$$\frac{x^2}{25} + \frac{(10 - 8x)^2}{400} = 1$$
Multiply the entire equation by 400:
16x² + (10 - 8x)² = 400$$16x^2 + (10 - 8x)^2 = 400$$
16x² + 100 - 160x + 64x² = 400$$16x^2 + 100 - 160x + 64x^2 = 400$$
80x² - 160x - 300 = 0$$80x^2 - 160x - 300 = 0$$
Divide by 20:
4x² - 8x - 15 = 0$$4x^2 - 8x - 15 = 0$$
Step 2: Solving the Quadratic
Solve for roots x₁$x_1$ and x₂$x_2$:
x = -(-8) ± √((-8)² - 4(4)(-15))2(4)$$x = \frac{-(-8) \pm \sqrt{(-8)^2 - 4(4)(-15)}}{2(4)}$$
x = 8 ± √(64 + 240)8 = 8 ± √(304)8$$x = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{64 + 240}}{8} = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{304}}{8}$$
Difference of x-coordinates:
|x₁ - x₂| = √(304)4$$|x_1 - x_2| = \frac{\sqrt{304}}{4}$$
Step 3: Calculating Chord Length
Because the points lie on the line y = (10 - 8x)/(5)$y = \frac{10 - 8x}{5}$, the difference in y-coordinates relates to the slope m = -(8)/(5)$m = -\frac{8}{5}$:
|y₁ - y₂| = |-(8)/(5)| |x₁ - x₂|$$|y_1 - y_2| = |-\frac{8}{5}| |x_1 - x_2|$$
The distance D$D$ between the points is:
D = √((x₁ - x₂)² + (y₁ - y₂)²) = |x₁ - x₂| √(1 + m²)$$D = \sqrt{(x_1 - x_2)^2 + (y_1 - y_2)^2} = |x_1 - x_2| \sqrt{1 + m^2}$$
D = √(304)4 √(1 + ((-8)/(5))²)$$D = \frac{\sqrt{304}}{4} \sqrt{1 + \left(\frac{-8}{5}\right)^2}$$
D = √(304)4 √(1 + (64)/(25)) = √(304)4 √(89)5$$D = \frac{\sqrt{304}}{4} \sqrt{1 + \frac{64}{25}} = \frac{\sqrt{304}}{4} \frac{\sqrt{89}}{5}$$
D = √(16 × 19)4 √(89)5 = 4√(19)4 √(89)5 = √(1691)5$$D = \frac{\sqrt{16 \times 19}}{4} \frac{\sqrt{89}}{5} = \frac{4\sqrt{19}}{4} \frac{\sqrt{89}}{5} = \frac{\sqrt{1691}}{5}$$
Pattern Recognition
For intersecting lines and conics, you rarely need to explicitly find y₁$y_1$ and y₂$y_2$. Use the slope property: Distance = |x₁ - x₂| √(1+m²)$= |x_1 - x_2| \sqrt{1+m^2}$ to bypass entirely the substitution of messy quadratic roots back into the linear equation.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Maths: Ellipse
Class 11 Maths: Straight Lines