JEE Main 2024
Conic Sections
Parabola
Medium
Question
Let P be a variable point on the parabola . Then, the locus of the mid-point of the point P and the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the point P to the line y = x is :
Options
Solution
This problem requires us to find the locus of a midpoint, which involves a systematic application of coordinate geometry concepts: parameterization of points, finding the foot of a perpendicular, using the midpoint formula, and finally eliminating the parameter.
1. Key Concepts and Formulas
- Parametric Representation: A point on a curve can often be represented using a single parameter (e.g., ). For a parabola , a point P can be .
- Foot of the Perpendicular: The foot of the perpendicular from a point to a line is a point $Q(x_2, y_