CircleHardBloom L3

Question

A variable circle is drawn to touch the $x$-axis at the origin. The locus of the pole of the straight line $lx + my + n = 0$ w.r.t the variable circle has the equation:

Options

A.$x(my - n) - ly^{2} = 0$
B.$x(my + n) - ly^{2} = 0$
C.$x(my - n) + ly^{2} = 0$
D.none of these

Solution

[Key Concept: A circle touching the $x$-axis at the origin has centre $(0,r)$; eliminate $r$ for the locus.]

Equation of $\odot$ is

$$\begin{matrix} & & x^{2} + (y - \lambda)^{2} = \lambda^{2} \\ & x^{2} + y^{2} - 2\lambda y = 0 & \text{(1)} \end{matrix}$$

Let the pole be $(h,k)$.It's polar w.r.t. (1) is

$$\begin{matrix} & & xh + ky - \lambda(k + y) = 0 \\ & xh + (k - \lambda)y - \lambda k = 0 & \text{(2)} \end{matrix}$$

compare it with $lx + my + n = 0$ and eliminate $\lambda$.

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