MCQMediumJEE 2025Straight Line Equations

JEE Mathematics 2025 Question with Solution

A line passes through the origin and makes equal angles with the positive coordinate axes. It intersects the lines L1:2x+y+6=0L_1 : 2x + y + 6 = 0 and L2:4x+2yp=0L_2 : 4x + 2y - p = 0, p>0p > 0, at the points A and B, respectively. If AB=92AB = \frac{9}{\sqrt{2}} and the foot of the perpendicular from the point A on the line L2L_2 is M, then AMBM\frac{AM}{BM} is equal to

  • A

    55

  • B

    44

  • C

    22

  • D

    33

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A line passes through the origin and makes equal angles with the positive coordinate axes. It meets L1:2x+y+6=0L_1 : 2x + y + 6 = 0 at A and L2:4x+2yp=0L_2 : 4x + 2y - p = 0 at B. Also, AB=92AB = \frac{9}{\sqrt{2}} and M is the foot of the perpendicular from A to L2L_2.

Find: AMBM\frac{AM}{BM}.

The line through the origin making equal angles with the positive coordinate axes is

y=xy = x

Intersecting it with L1L_1:

2x+y+6=02x + y + 6 = 0 2x+x+6=02x + x + 6 = 0 3x=63x = -6 x=2,y=2x = -2, y = -2

So, point A is (2,2)(-2,-2).

Now intersect y=xy=x with L2L_2:

4x+2yp=04x + 2y - p = 0 4x+2xp=04x + 2x - p = 0 6x=p6x = p x=p6,y=p6x = \frac{p}{6}, y = \frac{p}{6}

Hence, point B is (p6,p6)\left(\frac{p}{6}, \frac{p}{6}\right).

Using the distance formula and the given value of ABAB,

(p6+2)2+(p6+2)2=92\sqrt{\left(\frac{p}{6}+2\right)^2 + \left(\frac{p}{6}+2\right)^2} = \frac{9}{\sqrt{2}} 2(p6+2)2=92\sqrt{2\left(\frac{p}{6}+2\right)^2} = \frac{9}{\sqrt{2}} 2p6+2=92\sqrt{2}\left|\frac{p}{6}+2\right| = \frac{9}{\sqrt{2}} p6+2=92\left|\frac{p}{6}+2\right| = \frac{9}{2}

Since p>0p>0,

p6+2=92\frac{p}{6}+2 = \frac{9}{2} p6=52\frac{p}{6} = \frac{5}{2} p=15p = 15

Therefore,

B=(156,156)=(52,52)B = \left(\frac{15}{6}, \frac{15}{6}\right) = \left(\frac{5}{2}, \frac{5}{2}\right)

The slope of L2L_2 is 2-2 and the slope of y=xy=x is 11. Let θ\theta be the angle between these two lines. Then

tanθ=m1m21+m1m2\tan \theta = \left|\frac{m_1-m_2}{1+m_1m_2}\right| tanθ=1(2)1+1(2)=31=3\tan \theta = \left|\frac{1-(-2)}{1+1(-2)}\right| = \left|\frac{3}{-1}\right| = 3

From the geometry, tanθ=AMBM\tan\theta = \frac{AM}{BM}.

Therefore, AMBM=3\frac{AM}{BM} = 3. The correct option is D.

The second approach shown in the source gives an inconsistent intermediate value p=18p=18, but the solution itself declares the correct option as D and the first approach consistently gives p=15p=15 and AMBM=3\frac{AM}{BM}=3.

Using the angle interpretation

Given: A and B lie on the line y=xy=x, and M is the foot of the perpendicular from A to L2L_2.

Find: Why AMBM\frac{AM}{BM} equals the tangent of the angle between y=xy=x and L2L_2.

Since M lies on L2L_2 and AML2AM \perp L_2, triangle AMBAMB is right-angled at M. Also, points A and B lie on the line y=xy=x, so segment ABAB lies along y=xy=x.

Thus, the angle at B in triangle AMBAMB is exactly the angle between the lines y=xy=x and L2L_2. If that angle is θ\theta, then in right triangle AMBAMB,

tanθ=AMBM\tan\theta = \frac{AM}{BM}

Using slopes 11 and 2-2,

tanθ=1(2)1+(1)(2)=3\tan \theta = \left|\frac{1-(-2)}{1+(1)(-2)}\right| = 3

Hence,

AMBM=3\frac{AM}{BM} = 3

So the correct option is D.

Common mistakes

  • Taking the line through the origin making equal angles with the coordinate axes as something other than y=xy=x. Here the question says positive coordinate axes, so the required line is y=xy=x, not y=xy=-x.

  • Making an algebra mistake while using AB=92AB = \frac{9}{\sqrt{2}}. After simplifying, one must get p6+2=92\left|\frac{p}{6}+2\right| = \frac{9}{2}. Dropping the factor correctly is essential before solving for pp.

  • Using the wrong angle formula between two lines. The correct relation is tanθ=m1m21+m1m2\tan\theta = \left|\frac{m_1-m_2}{1+m_1m_2}\right|. Sign errors in slopes can change the result.

  • Not recognizing the right triangle geometry. Since M is the foot of the perpendicular from A to L2L_2, triangle AMBAMB is right-angled at M, and therefore AMBM=tanθ\frac{AM}{BM} = \tan\theta for the angle at B.

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