MCQMediumJEE 2025Conic Sections (Parabola, Ellipse, Hyperbola)

JEE Mathematics 2025 Question with Solution

If the midpoint of a chord of the ellipse x29+y24=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{y^2}{4} = 1 is (2,43)\left( \sqrt{2}, \frac{4}{3} \right), and the length of the chord is 2α3\frac{2\sqrt{\alpha}}{3}, then α\alpha is:

  • A

    1818

  • B

    2222

  • C

    2626

  • D

    2020

Answer

Correct answer:B

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The ellipse is x29+y24=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{y^2}{4} = 1. The midpoint of the chord is (2,43)\left( \sqrt{2}, \frac{4}{3} \right) and the chord length is 2α3\frac{2\sqrt{\alpha}}{3}.

Find: The value of α\alpha.

For the ellipse x2a2+y2b2=1\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1, the chord whose midpoint is (x1,y1)\left(x_1,y_1\right) has equation

xx1a2+yy1b2=x12a2+y12b2\frac{x x_1}{a^2} + \frac{y y_1}{b^2} = \frac{x_1^2}{a^2} + \frac{y_1^2}{b^2}

Here, a2=9,  b2=4,  x1=2,  y1=43a^2 = 9,\; b^2 = 4,\; x_1 = \sqrt{2},\; y_1 = \frac{4}{3}. So

x29+y(43)4=(2)29+(43)24\frac{x\sqrt{2}}{9} + \frac{y\left(\frac{4}{3}\right)}{4} = \frac{\left(\sqrt{2}\right)^2}{9} + \frac{\left(\frac{4}{3}\right)^2}{4} 2x9+y3=29+49=23\frac{\sqrt{2}x}{9} + \frac{y}{3} = \frac{2}{9} + \frac{4}{9} = \frac{2}{3}

Hence, the chord is

2x+3y=6\sqrt{2}x + 3y = 6

Now put y=62x3y = \frac{6 - \sqrt{2}x}{3} in the ellipse:

x29+14(62x3)2=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{1}{4}\left(\frac{6 - \sqrt{2}x}{3}\right)^2 = 1 x29+136(36122x+2x2)=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{1}{36}(36 - 12\sqrt{2}x + 2x^2) = 1

Multiplying by 3636,

4x2+36122x+2x2=364x^2 + 36 - 12\sqrt{2}x + 2x^2 = 36 6x2122x=06x^2 - 12\sqrt{2}x = 0 6x(x22)=06x(x - 2\sqrt{2}) = 0

So, x=0x = 0 or x=22x = 2\sqrt{2}.

Corresponding values of yy are:

  • for x=0x = 0, y=2y = 2
  • for x=22x = 2\sqrt{2}, y=23y = \frac{2}{3}

Thus the endpoints are A(0,2)A(0,2) and B(22,23)B\left(2\sqrt{2}, \frac{2}{3}\right). Using the distance formula,

AB=(220)2+(232)2AB = \sqrt{(2\sqrt{2} - 0)^2 + \left(\frac{2}{3} - 2\right)^2} AB=8+169=889=2223AB = \sqrt{8 + \frac{16}{9}} = \sqrt{\frac{88}{9}} = \frac{2\sqrt{22}}{3}

Given that the length is 2α3\frac{2\sqrt{\alpha}}{3}, we get α=22\alpha = 22.

Therefore, the correct option is B.

Working from chord midpoint relation

Given: Midpoint of the chord is (2,43)\left( \sqrt{2}, \frac{4}{3} \right) in the ellipse x29+y24=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{y^2}{4} = 1.

Find: The value of α\alpha when chord length is 2α3\frac{2\sqrt{\alpha}}{3}.

Write the ellipse in standard form with a=3a = 3 and b=2b = 2. Using the midpoint form of a chord of an ellipse:

xx1a2+yy1b2=x12a2+y12b2\frac{x x_1}{a^2} + \frac{y y_1}{b^2} = \frac{x_1^2}{a^2} + \frac{y_1^2}{b^2}

Substitute (x1,y1)=(2,43)\left(x_1,y_1\right) = \left(\sqrt{2}, \frac{4}{3}\right):

x29+y(43)4=29+1636\frac{x\sqrt{2}}{9} + \frac{y\left(\frac{4}{3}\right)}{4} = \frac{2}{9} + \frac{16}{36} 2x9+y3=29+49=23\frac{\sqrt{2}x}{9} + \frac{y}{3} = \frac{2}{9} + \frac{4}{9} = \frac{2}{3} 2x+3y=6\sqrt{2}x + 3y = 6

Substitute y=62x3y = \frac{6 - \sqrt{2}x}{3} into the ellipse equation:

x29+14(62x3)2=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{1}{4}\left(\frac{6 - \sqrt{2}x}{3}\right)^2 = 1 x29+136(62x)2=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{1}{36}(6 - \sqrt{2}x)^2 = 1 x29+136(36122x+2x2)=1\frac{x^2}{9} + \frac{1}{36}(36 - 12\sqrt{2}x + 2x^2) = 1 4x2+36122x+2x2=364x^2 + 36 - 12\sqrt{2}x + 2x^2 = 36 6x2122x=06x^2 - 12\sqrt{2}x = 0 6x(x22)=06x(x - 2\sqrt{2}) = 0

Hence the points of intersection are obtained from x=0x = 0 and x=22x = 2\sqrt{2}. Then

x=0y=2x = 0 \Rightarrow y = 2 x=22y=23x = 2\sqrt{2} \Rightarrow y = \frac{2}{3}

So endpoints are A(0,2)A(0,2) and B(22,23)B\left(2\sqrt{2}, \frac{2}{3}\right). Now calculate the length:

AB=(22)2+(43)2AB = \sqrt{(2\sqrt{2})^2 + \left(-\frac{4}{3}\right)^2} AB=8+169=889=2223AB = \sqrt{8 + \frac{16}{9}} = \sqrt{\frac{88}{9}} = \frac{2\sqrt{22}}{3}

Comparing with 2α3\frac{2\sqrt{\alpha}}{3} gives α=22\alpha = 22.

Therefore, the answer is 2222 and the correct option is B.

Common mistakes

  • Using the tangent form of the ellipse instead of the chord-with-given-midpoint formula is wrong because the given point is the midpoint of a chord, not a point of contact. Use xx1a2+yy1b2=x12a2+y12b2\frac{x x_1}{a^2} + \frac{y y_1}{b^2} = \frac{x_1^2}{a^2} + \frac{y_1^2}{b^2} instead.

  • Substituting into the ellipse and expanding (62x)2\left(6 - \sqrt{2}x\right)^2 incorrectly leads to a wrong quadratic. The correct expansion is 36122x+2x236 - 12\sqrt{2}x + 2x^2. Expand carefully before simplifying.

  • Finding the endpoints correctly but comparing the chord length directly with 22\sqrt{22} is wrong because the given length is 2α3\frac{2\sqrt{\alpha}}{3}. After computing AB=2223AB = \frac{2\sqrt{22}}{3}, compare the full expression to get α\alpha.

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