ELLIPSE

x2 y2
Ex.19 If α, β are eccentric angles of end points of a focal chord of the ellipse + = 1 , then tan α/2. tan β/2 is equal
a2 b2
to-

e −1 1− e e +1 e −1
[1] [2] [3] [4]
e +1 1+ e e −1 e +1

Sol. Equation of line joining points ‘α’ and ‘β’ is

x α+β y α+β α −β
cos + sin = cos
a 2 b 2 2

If it is a focal chord, then it passes through focus (ae, 0), so

α+β α −β
e cos = cos
2 2
α −β
cos
2 =e
⇒ α+β 1
cos
2
α −β α+β
cos − cos
2 2 = e −1
⇒ α−β α + β e +1
cos + cos
2 2
2 sin α / 2 sin β / 2 e −1
⇒ =
2 cos α / 2 cos β / 2 e + 1
α β e −1
⇒ tan tan = Ans.(1)
2 2 e +1