Related Formula
Parametric coordinates on y² = 4ax: (at², 2at)$$\text{Parametric coordinates on } y^2 = 4ax: \quad (at^2, \, 2at)$$
Focal Chord relation: t₁ t₂ = -1$$\text{Focal Chord relation: } t_1 t_2 = -1$$
Section Formula: (xc, yc) = ( (m x₂ + n x₁)/(m+n), (m y₂ + n y₁)/(m+n) )$$\text{Section Formula: } (x_c, y_c) = \left( \frac{m x_2 + n x_1}{m+n}, \, \frac{m y_2 + n y_1}{m+n} \right)$$
Core Logic
We find the parametric parameters of coordinates P$P$ and Q$Q$, obtain their Cartesian values, and then apply the section formula with the focus S$S$ to calculate the splitting ratio.
Step 1: Find coordinates of P and Q
For parabola y² = 16x$y^2 = 16x$, the focal parameter is a = 4$a = 4$.
Focus is S(4, 0)$S(4, 0)$.
Let P$P$ be (a t₁², 2a t₁) = (1, -4)$(a t_1^2, 2a t_1) = (1, -4)$:
2a t₁ = -4 2(4) t₁ = -4 t₁ = -(1)/(2)$$2a t_1 = -4 \implies 2(4) t_1 = -4 \implies t_1 = -\frac{1}{2}$$
Since PQ$PQ$ is a focal chord, the parametric points are coupled:
t₁ t₂ = -1 t₂ = 2$$t_1 t_2 = -1 \implies t_2 = 2$$
Now, calculate the coordinates of Q$Q$:
Q ≡ (a t₂², 2 a t₂) = (4(4), 2(4)(2)) = (16, 16)$$Q \equiv (a t_2^2, \, 2 a t_2) = (4(4), \, 2(4)(2)) = (16, \, 16)$$
Step 2: Solve for the dividing ratio
Let the focus S(4, 0)$S(4, 0)$ divide the line segment PQ$PQ$ internally in the ratio λ : 1$\lambda : 1$.
Using the y$y$-coordinate of the section formula:
yₛ = (λ yq + 1 yₚ)/(λ + 1)$$y_s = \frac{\lambda y_q + 1 y_p}{\lambda + 1}$$
0 = (λ(16) + 1(-4))/(λ + 1) 16λ - 4 = 0 λ = (1)/(4)$$0 = \frac{\lambda(16) + 1(-4)}{\lambda + 1} \implies 16\lambda - 4 = 0 \implies \lambda = \frac{1}{4}$$
Thus, the focus S$S$ divides the chord internally in the ratio 1:4$1:4$.
Since (1, 4) = 1$\gcd(1, 4) = 1$, we have m = 1$m = 1$ and n = 4$n = 4$:
m² + n² = 1² + 4² = 1 + 16 = 17$$m^2 + n^2 = 1^2 + 4^2 = 1 + 16 = 17$$
Pattern Recognition
Harmonic Mean Shortcut: In any parabola, the focus divides a focal chord internally into segments of lengths SP$SP$ and SQ$SQ$ such that the semi-latus rectum 2a$2a$ is the harmonic mean of these segments: (1)/(SP) + (1)/(SQ) = (1)/(a)$\frac{1}{SP} + \frac{1}{SQ} = \frac{1}{a}$.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Mathematics: Conic Sections