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Suppose
our
mirror
is
shaped
like
the
parabola
y
=
kx2
where
k
is
any
positive
constant.
Find
the
coordinates
of
its
focus
and
the
equation
of
its
directrix
in
terms
of
k.
Assuming
the
focus
and
directrix
lie
on
a
focal
chord
of
length
4p,
where
p
is
the
distance
from
the
vertex
to
both
the
focus
and
directrix,
we
can
utilize
the
following
standard
form
of
a
parabolic
equation
with
vertex
(h,k):
Supposing
our
parabola
is
defined
by
equation
y
=
kx2,
the
vertex
lies
at
the
origin,
at
point
(0,0).
The
standard
equation
can
then
be
algebraically
manipulated
as
follows:
x2 = 4py
x2
y
=
4p
1
=
k
4p
€
1
=
p
4k
€
1
Thus,
the
focus
lies
at
point
(0,
),
and
the
focal
chord
ends
on
the
directrix
at
4k
€ -1 -1
point
(0,
).
The
equation
of
the
directrix,
therefore,
is
y
=
.
4k
4k
€
b)
Find
the
equation
of
the
line
tangent
to
the
parabola
€ € at
a
point
(x0,
y0)
on
the
parabola.
Then,
find
the
y-‐intercept
of
the
tangent
line.
Given
the
equation
of
the
parabola
y
=
kx2,
it
follows,
by
way
of
the
power
and
product
rules,
that
derivative
y'
=
2xk.
By
substituting
variable
x0
for
x,
we
see
that
the
slope
of
the
tangent
line
at
point
(x0,
y0)
is
2x0k.
and thus the equation of the tangent at (x0, y0) is
The equation of the tangent at point (x0, y0) is thus
y = -y0
Therefore, the y-‐intercept of the tangent line at (x0, y0) is at point (0, -y0).
c)
Consider
the
triangle
formed
by
a
point
(x0,
y0)
on
the
parabola,
the
y-‐intercept
of
the
tangent
line
at
this
point,
and
the
focus.
Draw
a
picture
of
this
triangle.
Prove
the
triangle
is
isosceles.
First,
we
will
define
each
of
these
points
as
a
letter
(A,
B,
or
C)
for
the
sake
of
convenience.
1
Point
A
=
Focus
=
(0,
)
4k
Point
B
=
Point
on
parabola
=
(x0,
y0)
Point
C
=
Y-‐intercept
of
tangent
=
(0,
-y0)
In
order
for
€ the
triangle
to
be
isosceles,
two
or
more
of
the
line
segments
in
triangle
ΔABC
must
be
equal.
We
will
examine
line
segments
AB
and
AC
.
In
order
to
prove
that
AB
and
AC
are
of
equal
length,
we
must
use
the
distance
formula:
€ €
2
d
=
(x 2 − x1 )€ − y1 ) 2
+ ( y2 €
€ 1
d AB = (x0 − 0) 2 + ( y0 − ) 2
4k
y0
Substituting
x0
for
(from
equation
y
=
x2),
k
€
y0 y 1
d AB = + y 02 − 0 +
k 2k (4k) 2
€
y0 1
d AB = y 0 2 + +
2k (4k) 2
€
2
1
d AB = y 0 +
4k
€
1
d AB = y 0 +
4k
€
Now
for
the
distance
between
A
and
C:
€ 1 2
d AC = (0 − 0) 2 + (−y 0 − )
4k
1 2
d AC = (−y 0 − )
4k
€
1
d AC = y 0 +
and
therefore,
the
two
distances
are
equal,
and
the
triangle
is
4k
€ isosceles!
€
d)
Suppose
an
incoming
light
ray
strikes
a
curve
at
a
point
(x0,
y0).
If
the
light
ray
makes
an
angle
α
with
respect
to
the
tangent
line,
then
it
is
reflected
at
an
equal
angle
to
the
tangent
line.
This
result
from
physics
is
known
by
the
phrase
"the
angle
of
incidence
equals
the
angle
of
reflection."
Using
this
fact,
argue
that
incoming
light
rays
parallel
to
the
axis
of
the
parabola
are
all
reflected
to
the
focus,
independent
of
the
point
of
incidence.
Thus,
a
parabolic
mirror
focuses
all
light
rays
parallel
to
the
axis
to
a
point.
We
refer
to
the
following
diagram,
again
of
a
specific
case
y
=
x^2,
in
order
to
illustrate
this
phenomenon.
Therefore,
by
the
transitive
property,
because
angles
1
and
3
are
congruent,
and
angles
2
and
3
are
congruent,
angles
1
and
2
are
congruent.
Thus,
the
angle
of
incidence
and
the
angle
of
reflection
are
equal,
and
all
light
rays
parallel
to
the
parabolic
axis
will
be
reflected
to
the
focus.
e)
The
path
followed
by
a
ray
of
light
from
the
star
to
the
focus
of
the
mirror
has
another
special
property.
Draw
a
chord
of
the
parabola
that
is
above
the
focus
and
parallel
to
the
directrix.
Consider
a
ray
of
light
parallel
to
the
axis
as
it
crosses
the
chord,
hits
the
parabola
and
is
reflected
to
the
focus.
Let
d1
be
the
distance
from
the
chord
to
the
point
of
incidence
(x0,
y0)
on
the
parabola
and
let
d2
be
the
distance
from
(x0,
y0)
to
the
focus.
Show
that
the
sum
of
the
distances
d1+d2
is
constant,
independent
of
this
particular
point
of
incidence.
€