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Exercises: Exercises

Practice★☆☆
Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment whose endpoints are the points $A(2, -3)$ and $B(-4, 5)$.

Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment whose endpoints are the points $A(2, -3)$ and $B(-4, 5)$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Write the equations of the angle bisectors of the angles formed by the lines $r: 3x - 4y + 12 = 0$ and $s: 5x + 12y - 10 = 0$.

Write the equations of the angle bisectors of the angles formed by the lines $r: 3x - 4y + 12 = 0$ and $s: 5x + 12y - 10 = 0$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Determine the coordinates of the center and the length of the radius of the circle whose general equation is $x^2 + y^2 - 8x + 10y - 8 = 0$.

Determine the coordinates of the center and the length of the radius of the circle whose general equation is $x^2 + y^2 - 8x + 10y - 8 = 0$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
A circle has its center at the point $C(-3, 5)$ and passes through the origin of coordinates. Write its reduced equation and its general equation.

A circle has its center at the point $C(-3, 5)$ and passes through the origin of coordinates. Write its reduced equation and its general equation.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Find the length of the semi-axes, the coordinates of the foci, and the eccentricity of the ellipse with equation $\frac{x^2}{100} + \frac{y^2}{64} = 1$.

Find the length of the semi-axes, the coordinates of the foci, and the eccentricity of the ellipse with equation $\frac{x^2}{100} + \frac{y^2}{64} = 1$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Given the hyperbola with equation $\frac{x^2}{144} - \frac{y^2}{25} = 1$, determine its vertices, its foci, and the equations of its asymptotes.

Given the hyperbola with equation $\frac{x^2}{144} - \frac{y^2}{25} = 1$, determine its vertices, its foci, and the equations of its asymptotes.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Find the coordinates of the vertex, the focus, and the equation of the directrix of the parabola $y^2 = -20x$.

Find the coordinates of the vertex, the focus, and the equation of the directrix of the parabola $y^2 = -20x$.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
Identify the locus of the points in the plane whose difference in distances, in absolute value, to the points $F_1(5, 0)$ and $F_2(-5, 0)$ is always equal to $8$. Write…

Identify the locus of the points in the plane whose difference in distances, in absolute value, to the points $F_1(5, 0)$ and $F_2(-5, 0)$ is always equal to $8$. Write its reduced equation.

Solve
Practice★★☆
Three seismic stations detect an earthquake at the coordinates $A(1, 4)$, $B(-3, 2)$, and $C(5, -2)$ (in miles). Assuming that the seismic waves travel at the same speed…

Three seismic stations detect an earthquake at the coordinates $A(1, 4)$, $B(-3, 2)$, and $C(5, -2)$ (in miles). Assuming that the seismic waves travel at the same speed and arrive at the three stations at the same time, find the coordinates of the epicenter and the radius of the affected area (distance to the stations).

Solve
Practice★★☆
A satellite describes an elliptical orbit around a planet, which is located at one of its foci. The minimum distance from the satellite to the planet (periapsis) is…

A satellite describes an elliptical orbit around a planet, which is located at one of its foci. The minimum distance from the satellite to the planet (periapsis) is $3 \text{ Mm}$ and the maximum distance (apoapsis) is $9 \text{ Mm}$. Determine the equation of the orbit and its eccentricity, assuming that the center of the ellipse is at the origin and the focal axis coincides with the x-axis.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The cross-section of a nuclear cooling tower has the shape of a hyperbola. The narrowest part of the tower is $40 \text{ m}$ wide and is located at a height of…

The cross-section of a nuclear cooling tower has the shape of a hyperbola. The narrowest part of the tower is $40 \text{ m}$ wide and is located at a height of $50 \text{ m}$ above the ground. If the base of the tower has a width of $80 \text{ m}$, find the equation of the hyperbola assuming that its center coincides with the center of the narrowest part.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The main cable of a suspension bridge adopts a parabolic shape. The two towers supporting it are $120 \text{ m}$ apart and have a height of $40 \text{ m}$ above the…

The main cable of a suspension bridge adopts a parabolic shape. The two towers supporting it are $120 \text{ m}$ apart and have a height of $40 \text{ m}$ above the bridge deck. The lowest point of the cable is $10 \text{ m}$ above the deck. Determine the equation of the parabola and calculate the height of the cable at $30 \text{ m}$ from the center of the bridge.

Solve
Practice★★☆
A maritime radar has a detection range modelled by the circle $x^2 + y^2 - 4x + 6y - 12 \leq 0$. A ship follows a rectilinear trajectory given by the equation…

A maritime radar has a detection range modelled by the circle $x^2 + y^2 - 4x + 6y - 12 \leq 0$. A ship follows a rectilinear trajectory given by the equation $3x + 4y + k = 0$. Determine the values of the parameter $k$ for which the ship is detected by the radar at some point in its trajectory.

Solve
Practice★★☆
An underwater drone moves in such a way that its distance to a fixed buoy at $A(-2, 0)$ is always twice its distance to another fixed buoy at $B(4, 0)$. Find the…

An underwater drone moves in such a way that its distance to a fixed buoy at $A(-2, 0)$ is always twice its distance to another fixed buoy at $B(4, 0)$. Find the equation of the drone's trajectory, simplify it, and identify what type of geometric curve it describes.

Solve
Practice★★☆
A laser beam strikes an elliptical mirror whose shape is given by the equation $\frac{x^2}{25} + \frac{y^2}{9} = 1$. The point of incidence has an x-coordinate of…

A laser beam strikes an elliptical mirror whose shape is given by the equation $\frac{x^2}{25} + \frac{y^2}{9} = 1$. The point of incidence has an x-coordinate of $x = 3$ and a positive y-coordinate. Find the equation of the tangent line to the mirror at this point.

Solve
Practice★★☆
Calculate the points of intersection between the circle $x^2 + y^2 - 4x - 2y - 20 = 0$ and the line $x - y - 2 = 0$. Represent the situation graphically showing both…

Calculate the points of intersection between the circle $x^2 + y^2 - 4x - 2y - 20 = 0$ and the line $x - y - 2 = 0$. Represent the situation graphically showing both loci and the points of intersection.

X Y C(2,1) x - y - 2 = 0 (6,4) (−1,-3)
Solve
Practice★★★
A comet follows a parabolic trajectory given by the equation $y^2 = 8x$. An asteroid follows a rectangular hyperbolic orbit described by $x^2 - y^2 = 9$. Find the exact…

A comet follows a parabolic trajectory given by the equation $y^2 = 8x$. An asteroid follows a rectangular hyperbolic orbit described by $x^2 - y^2 = 9$. Find the exact coordinates of the points of intersection of both trajectories.

Solve
Practice★★★
From a control station located at the point $P(0, 7)$, laser signals are sent to a satellite whose circular orbit at that instant is given by the equation…

From a control station located at the point $P(0, 7)$, laser signals are sent to a satellite whose circular orbit at that instant is given by the equation $x^2 + y^2 - 4x + 2y - 15 = 0$. Find the equations of the two rectilinear trajectories tangent to the orbit from the control station.

Solve
Practice★★★
Find the locus of the points in the plane $P(x, y)$ such that the product of the gradients of the lines connecting them to the fixed points $A(-4, 0)$ and $B(4, 0)$ is…

Find the locus of the points in the plane $P(x, y)$ such that the product of the gradients of the lines connecting them to the fixed points $A(-4, 0)$ and $B(4, 0)$ is equal to $-\frac{9}{16}$. Identify the resulting conic, calculate its eccentricity and represent it graphically.

A(−4,0) B(4,0) P(x,y) m₁ m₂
Solve
Practice★★★
A car headlight has a parabolic cross-section. The bulb is located at the focus $F(3, 0)$ and the vertex of the parabola is at the origin of coordinates. A ray of light…

A car headlight has a parabolic cross-section. The bulb is located at the focus $F(3, 0)$ and the vertex of the parabola is at the origin of coordinates. A ray of light leaves the bulb, strikes the parabola at a point with y-coordinate $y = 6$ and is reflected. Calculate the equation of the tangent line at the point of incidence and find the angle formed by the incident ray and this tangent.

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Practice★★★
Two telecommunications networks have coverage areas modeled by the circles $C_1: x^2 + y^2 - 6x + 8y = 0$ and $C_2: x^2 + y^2 - 2x - 4y + 1 = 0$. Find the equation of…

Two telecommunications networks have coverage areas modeled by the circles $C_1: x^2 + y^2 - 6x + 8y = 0$ and $C_2: x^2 + y^2 - 2x - 4y + 1 = 0$. Find the equation of the radical axis, prove analytically that the circles are secant and calculate the exact distance between their points of intersection.

Solve
Practice★★★
Given the conic with general equation $9x^2 + 25y^2 - 54x + 200y + 256 = 0$. Classify it by completing the square and find the coordinates of its center, its vertices,…

Given the conic with general equation $9x^2 + 25y^2 - 54x + 200y + 256 = 0$. Classify it by completing the square and find the coordinates of its center, its vertices, its foci and the value of its eccentricity.

Solve
Practice★★★
A subatomic particle moves in a magnetic field describing a rectangular hyperbolic trajectory whose asymptotes coincide with the coordinate axes. Knowing that the…

A subatomic particle moves in a magnetic field describing a rectangular hyperbolic trajectory whose asymptotes coincide with the coordinate axes. Knowing that the particle passes through the point $P(4, 2)$, find the equation of the trajectory. Determine the exact coordinates of the vertices and the foci, and represent the curve graphically.

F(4,4) F'(−4,-4) P(4,2)
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Practice★★★
Find the equation of the locus of the points in the plane whose distance to the fixed point $F(4, 0)$ is equal to half their distance to the vertical line $x = 16$.…

Find the equation of the locus of the points in the plane whose distance to the fixed point $F(4, 0)$ is equal to half their distance to the vertical line $x = 16$. Identify the resulting conic, find its semi-axes and represent it graphically illustrating the directrix property.

x = 16 F(4,0) P(x,y) d₁ d₂ = 2·d₁
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