MCQMediumJEE 2025Conic Sections (Parabola, Ellipse, Hyperbola)

JEE Mathematics 2025 Question with Solution

Let CC be the circle x2+(y1)2=2x^2 + (y - 1)^2 = 2, E1E_1 and E2E_2 be two ellipses whose centres lie at the origin and major axes lie on the xx-axis and yy-axis respectively. Let the straight line x+y=3x + y = 3 touch the curves CC, E1E_1, and E2E_2 at P(x1,y1)P(x_1, y_1), Q(x2,y2)Q(x_2, y_2), and R(x3,y3)R(x_3, y_3) respectively. Given that PP is the mid-point of the line segment QRQR and PQ=223PQ = \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}, the value of 9(x1y1+x2y2+x3y3)9(x_1 y_1 + x_2 y_2 + x_3 y_3) is equal to

  • A

    4646

  • B

    4848

  • C

    4444

  • D

    5050

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The circle is x2+(y1)2=2x^2 + (y - 1)^2 = 2 and the line x+y=3x + y = 3 is tangent to the circle at P(x1,y1)P(x_1,y_1). The same line touches the ellipses at Q(x2,y2)Q(x_2,y_2) and R(x3,y3)R(x_3,y_3). Also, PP is the midpoint of QRQR and PQ=223PQ = \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}.

Find: The value of 9(x1y1+x2y2+x3y3)9(x_1y_1 + x_2y_2 + x_3y_3).

The tangency point on the circle is the foot of the perpendicular from the center (0,1)(0,1) to the line x+y3=0x+y-3=0.

P=(0,1)132(1,1)=(0,1)+(1,1)=(1,2)P=(0,1)-\frac{1-3}{2}(1,1)=(0,1)+ (1,1)=(1,2)

So,

x1y1=12=2x_1y_1 = 1 \cdot 2 = 2

Now the line x+y=3x+y=3 has direction vector (1,1)(1,-1), so a unit direction vector is

u=12(1,1)\mathbf{u}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(1,-1)

Since PP is the midpoint of QRQR and PQ=223PQ = \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3},

Q=P+su,R=Psu,s=223Q=P+s\mathbf{u}, \qquad R=P-s\mathbf{u}, \qquad s=\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}

Then

su=22312(1,1)=(23,23)s\mathbf{u}=\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}\cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(1,-1)=\left(\frac{2}{3},-\frac{2}{3}\right)

Hence,

Q=(1+23,223)=(53,43)Q=\left(1+\frac{2}{3}, 2-\frac{2}{3}\right)=\left(\frac{5}{3},\frac{4}{3}\right)

and

R=(123,2+23)=(13,83)R=\left(1-\frac{2}{3}, 2+\frac{2}{3}\right)=\left(\frac{1}{3},\frac{8}{3}\right)

Therefore,

x2y2=5343=209,x3y3=1383=89x_2y_2=\frac{5}{3}\cdot\frac{4}{3}=\frac{20}{9}, \qquad x_3y_3=\frac{1}{3}\cdot\frac{8}{3}=\frac{8}{9}

Now add:

x1y1+x2y2+x3y3=2+209+89=2+289=469x_1y_1+x_2y_2+x_3y_3 = 2 + \frac{20}{9} + \frac{8}{9} = 2 + \frac{28}{9} = \frac{46}{9}

Thus,

9(x1y1+x2y2+x3y3)=9469=469(x_1y_1+x_2y_2+x_3y_3)=9\cdot\frac{46}{9}=46

Therefore, the required value is 4646, so the correct option is A.

Using symmetry on the tangent line

Given: The common tangent is x+y=3x+y=3, the point of contact with the circle is PP, and PP is the midpoint of QRQR with PQ=223PQ=\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}.

Find: 9(x1y1+x2y2+x3y3)9(x_1y_1+x_2y_2+x_3y_3).

First find PP. The circle has center (0,1)(0,1) and radius 2\sqrt{2}. Since the line is tangent,

0+1312+12=22=2\frac{|0+1-3|}{\sqrt{1^2+1^2}}=\frac{2}{\sqrt{2}}=\sqrt{2}

so the line is indeed tangent. The radius to the tangency point is perpendicular to the line, hence PP is the projection of (0,1)(0,1) on x+y=3x+y=3, which gives

P=(1,2)P=(1,2)

Thus,

x1y1=2x_1y_1=2

Now move along the tangent line. A unit vector parallel to x+y=3x+y=3 is

12(1,1)\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(1,-1)

Because PP is the midpoint of QRQR and the distance from PP to each endpoint is PQ=223PQ=\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}, the shift from PP to either point is

22312(1,1)=(23,23)\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}\cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(1,-1)=\left(\frac{2}{3},-\frac{2}{3}\right)

So,

Q=(1,2)+(23,23)=(53,43)Q=\left(1,2\right)+\left(\frac{2}{3},-\frac{2}{3}\right)=\left(\frac{5}{3},\frac{4}{3}\right)R=(1,2)(23,23)=(13,83)R=\left(1,2\right)-\left(\frac{2}{3},-\frac{2}{3}\right)=\left(\frac{1}{3},\frac{8}{3}\right)

Now compute the products:

x1y1=12=2x2y2=5343=209x3y3=1383=89\begin{aligned} x_1y_1 &= 1\cdot 2 = 2 \\ x_2y_2 &= \frac{5}{3}\cdot\frac{4}{3}=\frac{20}{9} \\ x_3y_3 &= \frac{1}{3}\cdot\frac{8}{3}=\frac{8}{9} \end{aligned}

Therefore,

x1y1+x2y2+x3y3=2+209+89=2+289=469\begin{aligned} x_1y_1+x_2y_2+x_3y_3 &= 2+\frac{20}{9}+\frac{8}{9} \\ &= 2+\frac{28}{9} \\ &= \frac{46}{9} \end{aligned}

Hence,

9(x1y1+x2y2+x3y3)=469(x_1y_1+x_2y_2+x_3y_3)=46

Therefore, the correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the ellipses are needed explicitly and trying to write their equations. This is unnecessary because the midpoint condition and the distance PQPQ already determine QQ and RR on the tangent line. Use the line geometry first.

  • Using a non-unit direction vector for the line x+y=3x+y=3 and directly multiplying by PQPQ. This is wrong because PQPQ is a distance, so it must multiply a unit direction vector. Use 12(1,1)\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(1,-1), not just (1,1)(1,-1).

  • Finding the tangency point PP incorrectly by solving only with the line equation and circle equation. That can produce extra algebra and mistakes. Since the tangent point is the foot of the perpendicular from the center to the tangent, use projection from (0,1)(0,1) onto x+y=3x+y=3.

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