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Algebra Difficulty 3.4 AMC 10/12 Find the answer

Given any point PP on the hyperbola x24y212=1\frac{x^{2}}{4} - \frac{y^{2}}{12} = 1, find the product of the distances from PP to both asymptotes.

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

Let P(x_1,y_1)P(x\_1, y\_1) be any point on the hyperbola, which satisfies x_124y_1212=1\frac{x\_1^{2}}{4} - \frac{y\_1^{2}}{12} = 1. The equations of the two asymptotes are 3xy=0\sqrt{3}x - y = 0 and 3x+y=0\sqrt{3}x + y = 0.

The distances from point P(x_1,y_1)P(x\_1, y\_1) to these asymptotes are given by 3x_1y_12\frac{\left| \sqrt{3}x\_1 - y\_1 \right|}{2} and 3x_1+y_12\frac{\left| \sqrt{3}x\_1 + y\_1 \right|}{2}, respectively.

Multiplying these distances, we obtain 3x_1y_123x_1+y_12=3x_12y_124=3\frac{\left| \sqrt{3}x\_1 - y\_1 \right|}{2} \cdot \frac{\left| \sqrt{3}x\_1 + y\_1 \right|}{2} = \frac{3x\_1^{2} - y\_1^{2}}{4} = 3.

Therefore, the product of distances from point PP to the hyperbola's asymptotes is a constant, 33.

Hence, the answer is 3\boxed{3}.

To solve this problem, we first assumed P(x_1,y_1)P(x\_1, y\_1) to be any point on the hyperbola. Then, we determined the equations of the asymptotes and used the formula for the distance from a point to a line to express the distances of P(x_1,y_1)P(x\_1, y\_1) from the asymptotes. Finally, we multiplied these distances and simplified the expression to obtain the answer.

This problem primarily assesses understanding of the basic properties of a hyperbola, such as its asymptote equations, and the application of the formula for the distance from a point to a line.

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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.