The general conic

Theorem : To find the equation to the tangent at any point P ( 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) of the

conic section a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0.
Proof : Given conic is a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ………. (i)
Let P (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) be given point and Q (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) be any other point on the conic (i) .
So, a 𝑥1 2 + 2h𝑥1 𝑦1 + b 𝑦1 2 + 2g𝑥1 + 2f𝑦1 + c = 0 ………. (ii)
and , a 𝑥2 2 + 2h𝑥2 𝑦2 + b 𝑦2 2 + 2g𝑥2 + 2f𝑦2 + c = 0 ………. (iii)
Now , subtracting (ii) from (iii) we get ,
a (𝑥2 2 - 𝑥1 2 ) + 2h (𝑥2 𝑦2 - 𝑥1 𝑦1 ) +b (𝑦2 2 - 𝑦1 2 ) + 2g (𝑥2 - 𝑥1 ) +2f (𝑦2 - 𝑦1 )= 0
or, a (𝑥2 - 𝑥1 ) (𝑥2 + 𝑥1 ) + h[ ((𝑥2 - 𝑥1 ) (𝑦2 + 𝑦1 ) + (𝑦2 - 𝑦1 ) (𝑥2 + 𝑥1 ) ] +
b (𝑦2 - 𝑦1 ) (𝑦2 + 𝑦1 ) +2g (𝑥2 - 𝑥1 ) + 2f (𝑦2 - 𝑦1 ) =0
or, (𝑥2 - 𝑥1 ){a(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 ) +h(𝑦2 + 𝑦1 )+2g}+(𝑦2 - 𝑦1 ){h(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 )+ b(𝑦2 +𝑦1 )+2f}=0
or, (𝑦2 - 𝑦1 ){h(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 )+ b(𝑦2 +𝑦1 )+2f}= - (𝑥2 - 𝑥1 ){a(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 ) +h(𝑦2 + 𝑦1 )+2g}
𝑦2 − 𝑦1 a(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 ) +h(𝑦2 + 𝑦1 )+2g
or, =-
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 h(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 )+ b(𝑦2 +𝑦1)+2𝑓
which gives the slope of line PQ.
Now, equation of the line PQ is
𝑦 − 𝑦1
y- 𝑦1 = 2 (x- 𝑥1 )
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

a(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 ) +h(𝑦2 + 𝑦1 )+2g

or, y- 𝑦1 = - (x- 𝑥1 )
h(𝑥2 + 𝑥1 )+ b(𝑦2 +𝑦1)+2𝑓
The line PQ becomes a tangent to the conic (i) at point P when Q→P i.e. 𝑥2 → 𝑥1 ,
𝑦2 → 𝑦1 .
Using this condition on above equation we get,
a(𝑥1 + 𝑥1 ) +h(𝑦1 + 𝑦1)+2g
y- 𝑦1 = - (x- 𝑥1 )
h(𝑥1 + 𝑥1 )+ b(𝑦1+𝑦1 )+2𝑓
2𝑎𝑥1 +2𝑕𝑦1 +2𝑔
or, y- 𝑦1 = − 2𝑕𝑥 +2𝑏𝑦 +2𝑓 (x- 𝑥1 )
1 1
𝑎𝑥1 +𝑕𝑦1 +𝑔
or, , y- 𝑦1 = − 𝑕𝑥 +𝑏𝑦 +𝑓 (x- 𝑥1 )
1 1
or, h𝑥1 y+by𝑦1 +f y -h𝑥1 𝑦1 - b𝑦1 2 - f𝑦1 =- ax𝑥1 -h𝑦1 x – g x + a 𝑥1 2 +h𝑥1 𝑦1 + g𝑥1
or, ax𝑥1 + h𝑥1 y+ h𝑦1 x+by𝑦1 + gx + fy = a 𝑥1 2 +2h𝑥1 𝑦1 + b𝑦1 2 + g𝑥1 + f𝑦1
Adding g𝑥1 + f𝑦1 + c on both sides we get,
 ax𝑥1 + h𝑥1 y+ h𝑦1 x+by𝑦1 + gx + fy+ g𝑥1 + f𝑦1 + c = a 𝑥1 2 +2h𝑥1 𝑦1 + b𝑦1 2 +
g𝑥1 + f𝑦1 + g𝑥1 + f𝑦1 + c
or, ax𝑥1 + h(𝑥1 y+ 𝑦1 x)+by𝑦1 +g( x+𝑥1 )+f(y+𝑦1 )+ c = a 𝑥1 2 + 2h𝑥1 𝑦1 + b 𝑦1 2 +
2g𝑥1 + 2f𝑦1 + c
or, ax𝑥1 + h(𝑥1 y+ 𝑦1 x)+by𝑦1 +g( x+𝑥1 )+f(y+𝑦1 )+ c = 0
[∵ Using (ii) ]
This is the required equation of tangent at point P ( 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ).
Theorem:
To find the condition that the straight line lx+my+n=0 may touch the conic
a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
Proof :- Given line is lx+my+n=0
or, my = -(lx +n)
𝑙𝑥+𝑛
∴ y =- ………… (i)
𝑚
and conic is a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ……….. (ii)
Now solving equations (i) and (ii) we get,
 𝑙𝑥+𝑛 𝑙𝑥+𝑛 2 𝑙𝑥+𝑛
a𝑥 2 - 2hx +b + 2gx – 2f +c=0
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
or, a𝑥 2 𝑚2 - 2hlm𝑥 2 - 2hmnx +b𝑙 2 𝑥 2 + 2blnx + b𝑛2 +2g𝑚2 x -2flmx-2fmn+c𝑚2 =0
or, (a𝑚2 -2hlm+b𝑙 2 ) 𝑥 2 - 2( hmn – bln - g𝑚2 +flm)x +(b𝑛2 -2fmn+c𝑚2 ) = 0
……………………… (iii)
This equation (iii) is quadratic in x which has two values in x. The line (i) will be a
tangent to the conic (ii) if these two roots are identical. This will be if
𝑏 2 - 4ac = 0
or, 4(𝑕𝑙𝑚 − 𝑏𝑙𝑛 − 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑓𝑙𝑚)2 - 4 (a𝑚2 -2hlm+b𝑙 2 ) (b𝑛2 -2fmn+c𝑚2 ) = 0
or, (𝑕𝑙𝑚 − 𝑏𝑙𝑛 − 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑓𝑙𝑚)2 - (a𝑚2 -2hlm+b𝑙 2 ) (b𝑛2 -2fmn+c𝑚2 ) = 0
i.e. (𝑕𝑙𝑚 − 𝑏𝑙𝑛 − 𝑔𝑚2 + 𝑓𝑙𝑚)2 = (a𝑚2 -2hlm+b𝑙 2 ) (b𝑛2 -2fmn+c𝑚2 )
This is the required condition.
Theorem:
To find the equation of the normal at (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) of the conic
a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
Proof :- Given conic is a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ……… (i)
We know that the equation of the tangent to the conic (i) at point (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) is
ax𝑥1 + h(𝑥1 y+ 𝑦1 x)+by𝑦1 +g( x+𝑥1 )+f(y+𝑦1 )+ c = 0
or, (a𝑥1 + h𝑦1 +g)x + (h𝑥1 +b𝑦1 +f)y +g𝑥1 + f𝑦1 +c =0
𝐶𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
∴ Slope of tangent = -
𝐶𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑦

a𝑥1+ h𝑦1 +g
=-
h𝑥1 +b𝑦1 +f
As the tangent and normal at a point are perpendicular to each other, the slope of
h𝑥 +b𝑦1 +f
normal at point (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) is m = 1
a𝑥1+ h𝑦1 +g
So, equation of normal to the conic (i) at point (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) is
y- 𝑦1 = m (x- 𝑥1 )
h𝑥1 +b𝑦1 +f
i.e. y- 𝑦1 = (x- 𝑥1 ) .
a𝑥1+ h𝑦1 +g
Theorem : To find the equation of the chord of contact of tangents from the point
to the conic a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
Proof :- Given conic is a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ………. (i)
Let two tangents are drawn from the given point P(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) to the conic (i) at points
M(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) and N(𝑥3 , 𝑦3 ) . So MN is the chord of contact of tangents from the point
P (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) .
M P (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )
Now, equation of tangent to the conic (i) at point M(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) is
ax𝑥2 + h(𝑥2 y+ 𝑦2 x)+by𝑦2 +g( x+𝑥2 )+f(y+𝑦2 )+ c = 0
It passes through the point P (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ). N
∴ a𝑥1 𝑥2 + h(𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 𝑥1 )+b𝑦1 𝑦2 +g(𝑥1 +𝑥2 )+f(𝑦1 +𝑦2 )+ c = 0……… (ii)
Also, equation of tangent to the conic (i) at point N(𝑥3 , 𝑦3 ) is
ax𝑥3 + h(𝑥3 y+ 𝑦3 x)+by𝑦3 +g( x+𝑥3 )+f(y+𝑦3 )+ c = 0
It passes through the point P (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ).
∴ a𝑥1 𝑥3 + h(𝑥3 𝑦1 + 𝑦3 𝑥1 )+b𝑦1 𝑦3 +g(𝑥1 +𝑥3 )+f(𝑦1 +𝑦3 )+ c = 0……… (iii)
From equations (ii) and (iii) we see that points M(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) and N(𝑥3 , 𝑦3 ) satisfy
the locus a𝑥1 𝑥+ h(x𝑦1 + y𝑥1 )+b𝑦1 𝑦+g(𝑥1 +x)+f(𝑦1 +y)+ c = 0
i.e. ax𝑥1 + h(𝑥1 y+ 𝑦1 x)+by𝑦1 +g( x+𝑥1 )+f(y+𝑦1 )+ c = 0
This is the required equation of the chord of contact of tangents.
Theorem:
To find the equation of the polar of the point P(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) with respect to the conic
a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
Proof :- Given conic is a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ………. (i)
Suppose from the point P(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) a straight line PQR is drawn that meets the
conic (i) at points Q and R. Now draw the tangents to the conic at points Q and R
that meet at point T(𝛼, 𝛽).
∴ QR is the chord of contact of tangents from the point T(𝛼, 𝛽).
P(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )
So, equation of chord QR is
ax𝛼 +h(𝛼y+ 𝛽x) +by𝛽+g( x+ 𝛼)+f(y+ 𝛽) + c = 0 T(𝛼, 𝛽)
It passes through the point P(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) . So we have, Q

a𝑥1 𝛼 + h(𝛼𝑦1 + 𝛽 𝑥1 )+b𝑦1 𝛽 +g( 𝑥1 + 𝛼)+f(𝑦1 + 𝛽)+ c = 0

R
∴ Locus of point T(𝛼, 𝛽) is
a𝑥1 𝑥 + h(𝑥𝑦1 + y𝑥1 )+b𝑦1 y +g( 𝑥1 + x)+f(𝑦1 + 𝑦)+ c = 0
i.e. ax𝑥1 + h(𝑥1 y+ 𝑦1 x)+by𝑦1 +g( x+𝑥1 )+f(y+𝑦1 )+ c = 0
This is the required equation of polar of point P(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) with respect
to the conic (i).
Remarks
Let the equation of conic is a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 …………. (i)
# Equation of the chord of conic (i) whose middle point ( 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏 ) is
T = S1
where, T = ax𝑥1 + h(𝑥1 y+ 𝑦1 x)+by𝑦1 +g( x+𝑥1 )+f(y+𝑦1 )+ c
S1 = a 𝑥1 2 + 2h𝑥1 𝑦1 + b 𝑦1 2 + 2g𝑥1 + 2f𝑦1 + c

# Equation of the pair of tangents from ( 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏 ) to the conic (i) is

S S1 = T 2
where, S = a𝑥 2 + 2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c
S1 = a 𝑥1 2 + 2h𝑥1 𝑦1 + b 𝑦1 2 + 2g𝑥1 + 2f𝑦1 + c
T = ax𝑥1 + h(𝑥1 y+ 𝑦1 x)+by𝑦1 +g( x+𝑥1 )+f(y+𝑦1 )+ c

# The director circle of the conic (i) is

(a + b) (a𝑥 2 +2hxy +b𝑦 2 + 2gx + 2fy +c) - ax + hy + g 2 - hx + by + f 2 =0
# The diameter of the conic (i) that bisects the chords parallel to
the line y = mx + c is
( ax + hy + g ) + m ( hx + by + f ) = 0

# Two diameters y = 𝐦𝟏 x + 𝐜𝟏 and y = 𝒎𝟐 x + 𝒄𝟐 of conic

(i) are conjugate diameters if
a + h (m1 + m2 ) + b m1 m2 = 0