252
ELLIPSE.
Hence the equation to PD is, by the formula
(x" - x) y - {y" -y')x = x'y - xy\
y (— a sin# — a cos#) — x {b cos# - b sin#)
= — a sin #. b sin # — a cos #. b cos #,
or (<ay — bx) sin# + (ay + bx) cos# = ab (1).
Differentiating with respect to #, we have
{ay — bx) cos# — {ay + bx) sin# = 0 (2).
Squaring and adding (1) and (2), we get, for the equation to the
required locus,
2ay + 25V = dP\
2. If, from every point in the axis major of an ellipse, as
centre, a circle be described, with radius equal to the ordinate at
that point: to find the envelop of the circles.
The equation to the ellipse being
that to the envelop will be an arc of another ellipse represented
by the equation
x 2 y 2
Ll =
a 2 + b 2 + b 2
3. Two straight lines are drawn from one extremity of the
major axis of an ellipse, making with it angles the tangents of
which are in a given ratio: to find the locus of the ultimate
intersections of chords, each of which joins the two points where
two corresponding lines cut the ellipse.
The equation to the ellipse being
f = ^ (2«« - x 1 ),
the envelop required will be another ellipse, the equation of
which referred to the same axes will be, a denoting the given
ratio, AnH 1
‘2 ‘2\