JEE Challenger
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Locus of Midpoint of Normal Segment on Ellipse

The normal at a point PP on the ellipse x2+4y2=16x^2 + 4y^2 = 16 meets the xx-axis at QQ. If MM is the mid point of the line segment PQPQ, then the locus of MM intersects the latus rectums of the given ellipse at the points

Options

A

(±352,±27)\left(\pm \frac{3\sqrt{5}}{2}, \pm \frac{2}{7}\right)

B

(±352,±194)\left(\pm \frac{3\sqrt{5}}{2}, \pm \frac{\sqrt{19}}{4}\right)

C

(±23,±17)\left(\pm 2\sqrt{3}, \pm \frac{1}{7}\right)

Correct
D

(±23,±437)\left(\pm 2\sqrt{3}, \pm \frac{4\sqrt{3}}{7}\right)

Step-by-Step Solution

The equation of the given ellipse is:
x2+4y2=16  ⟹  x216+y24=1x^2 + 4y^2 = 16 \implies \frac{x^2}{16} + \frac{y^2}{4} = 1
Here, a2=16  ⟹  a=4a^2 = 16 \implies a = 4 and b2=4  ⟹  b=2b^2 = 4 \implies b = 2.

The eccentricity ee of the ellipse is given by:
e=1−b2a2=1−416=34=32e = \sqrt{1 - \frac{b^2}{a^2}} = \sqrt{1 - \frac{4}{16}} = \sqrt{\frac{3}{4}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}

The foci are located at (±ae,0)=(±23,0)(\pm ae, 0) = (\pm 2\sqrt{3}, 0).
Therefore, the equations of the latus rectums are:
x=±23x = \pm 2\sqrt{3}

Let the coordinates of any point PP on the ellipse in parametric form be:
P=(4cos⁡θ,2sin⁡θ)P = (4\cos\theta, 2\sin\theta)

The equation of the normal to the ellipse x2a2+y2b2=1\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1 at the point (acos⁡θ,bsin⁡θ)(a\cos\theta, b\sin\theta) is:
axcos⁡θ−bysin⁡θ=a2−b2\frac{ax}{\cos\theta} - \frac{by}{\sin\theta} = a^2 - b^2

Substituting a=4a = 4 and b=2b = 2:
4xcos⁡θ−2ysin⁡θ=16−4=12\frac{4x}{\cos\theta} - \frac{2y}{\sin\theta} = 16 - 4 = 12

The normal meets the xx-axis at point QQ. Setting y=0y = 0:
4xcos⁡θ=12  ⟹  x=3cos⁡θ\frac{4x}{\cos\theta} = 12 \implies x = 3\cos\theta
Thus, the point QQ is (3cos⁡θ,0)(3\cos\theta, 0).

Since M(h,k)M(h, k) is the midpoint of the line segment PQPQ:
h=4cos⁡θ+3cos⁡θ2=72cos⁡θ  ⟹  cos⁡θ=2h7h = \frac{4\cos\theta + 3\cos\theta}{2} = \frac{7}{2}\cos\theta \implies \cos\theta = \frac{2h}{7}
k=2sin⁡θ+02=sin⁡θ  ⟹  sin⁡θ=kk = \frac{2\sin\theta + 0}{2} = \sin\theta \implies \sin\theta = k

Using the identity cos⁡2θ+sin⁡2θ=1\cos^2\theta + \sin^2\theta = 1, we obtain:
(2h7)2+k2=1\left(\frac{2h}{7}\right)^2 + k^2 = 1

Thus, the locus of M(x,y)M(x, y) is:
4x249+y2=1\frac{4x^2}{49} + y^2 = 1

To find the intersection of this locus with the latus rectums, substitute x=±23x = \pm 2\sqrt{3} into the locus equation:
4(±23)249+y2=1\frac{4(\pm 2\sqrt{3})^2}{49} + y^2 = 1
4(12)49+y2=1\frac{4(12)}{49} + y^2 = 1
4849+y2=1  ⟹  y2=1−4849=149\frac{48}{49} + y^2 = 1 \implies y^2 = 1 - \frac{48}{49} = \frac{1}{49}
y=±17y = \pm \frac{1}{7}

Hence, the locus of MM intersects the latus rectums at the points:
(±23,±17)\left(\pm 2\sqrt{3}, \pm \frac{1}{7}\right)

Therefore, the correct option is C.