Relation Between $$a$$, $$b$$ and $$c$$

Rarely Tested

Relation Between $$a$$, $$b$$ and $$c$$

$$c^2=a^2+b^2$$

Terminology

- $$c$$ → Distance of each focus from the centre.

Usage

- Used to determine the focal distance from the semi-transverse and semi-conjugate axes.

Question 1

Consider the ellipse $$E$$ given by $$\dfrac{x^2}{18}+\dfrac{y^2}{12}=1$$. Let $$H$$ be the hyperbola whose eccentricity is the reciprocal of the eccentricity of $$E$$ and whose foci are the same as that of $$E$$. Let $$P$$ and $$Q$$ be the points of intersection of $$H$$ and the parabola $$\sqrt{5}\,y=x^2$$ in the first quadrant. Let $$d$$ be the distance between $$P$$ and $$Q$$.

If $$a$$ and $$b$$ are the integers such that $$d^2=a+b\sqrt{5}$$, then the value of $$a-b$$ is ___.

Question 2

The equation of a hyperbola is $$\frac{x^2}{a^2} - \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1$$. It is given that the distance between its two foci is $$20$$ and the distance between its two directrices is $$10$$.
If $$ab = k$$, find the value of $$k.$$

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