Let each of the two ellipses and
- A
- B
- C
- D
Let each of the two ellipses and
Correct answer:D
Standard Method
Given: The ellipses and have the same eccentricity. For , the distance between the foci is , so if its focal distance from the center is , then . Also, the lengths of their latus recta satisfy .
Find: The distance between the foci of .
From the solution, for the eccentricity is used as
Since the distance between the foci is ,
Hence,
Now use the ellipse relation
So,
The length of the latus rectum of is
Using the given relation
we get
For , the solution uses the same eccentricity and writes
Solving these gives
Therefore, the distance between the foci of is , so the correct option is D.
Stepwise Extraction from Given Working
Given: Same eccentricity for both ellipses, , and focal distance of is .
Find: Focal distance of .
and
Therefore,
Substituting ,
Using these, the final result obtained in the solution is
Thus, the required distance between the foci of is .
Using the wrong latus rectum formula for an ellipse. For a major-axis ellipse, the latus rectum length is , not . First identify which semi-axis is the major axis, then apply the correct formula.
Confusing the distance between the foci with . The distance between the foci is , so if it is given as , then . Do not substitute directly in place of .
Forgetting that both ellipses have the same eccentricity. The solution uses for both and . If this is ignored, the focal distance of cannot be determined correctly.
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