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Geometry Difficulty 3.3 AMC 10/12 Find the answer

Given an ellipse x2a2+y2b2=1(a>b>0)\frac{{x}^{2}}{{a}^{2}}+\frac{{y}^{2}}{{b}^{2}}=1(a>b>0) with left and right foci F1F_{1} and F2F_{2}, and a point P(2,1)P(2,1) on the ellipse. If PF1+PF2=26|PF_{1}|+|PF_{2}|=2\sqrt{6}, then F1F2=______|F_{1}F_{2}|=\_\_\_\_\_\_.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Given the problem, we start by understanding the properties of an ellipse. The sum of the distances from any point on the ellipse to the foci is constant and equal to 2a2a, where 2a2a is the length of the major axis.

1. From the given condition PF1+PF2=26|PF_{1}|+|PF_{2}|=2\sqrt{6}, we understand that this sum equals the length of the major axis, hence 2a=262a=2\sqrt{6}. This directly leads to finding the value of aa:
2a=26    a=6.2a = 2\sqrt{6} \implies a = \sqrt{6}.

2. Knowing that the point P(2,1)P(2,1) lies on the ellipse, we can substitute its coordinates into the ellipse equation:
22a2+12b2=1    46+1b2=1.\frac{{2}^{2}}{{a}^{2}}+\frac{{1}^{2}}{{b}^{2}}=1 \implies \frac{4}{6}+\frac{1}{{b}^{2}}=1.
Solving this equation for b2b^2 gives us:
b2=3.b^{2} = 3.

3. The distance between the foci of an ellipse, F1F2|F_{1}F_{2}|, is given by 2c2c, where cc is the linear eccentricity of the ellipse. The relationship between aa, bb, and cc is given by c2=a2b2c^{2}=a^{2}-b^{2}. Substituting the values of aa and bb we found:
c2=a2b2=63=3.c^{2} = a^{2} - b^{2} = 6 - 3 = 3.
Therefore, c=3c = \sqrt{3}.

4. Finally, the distance between the foci F1F2|F_{1}F_{2}| is 2c2c, which gives us:
F1F2=23.|F_{1}F_{2}| = 2\sqrt{3}.

Therefore, the answer is 23\boxed{2\sqrt{3}}.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.