Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 4 / 37 of 340 #297 of 1964

Problem 297

AMC 12 late, AIME early
Geometry Difficulty 4.5 Prove it

Given an ellipse C:x2a2+y2b2=1C: \frac{x^{2}}{a^{2}}+ \frac{y^{2}}{b^{2}}=1 (a>b>0), F1F_{1}, F2F_{2} are the left and right foci of the ellipse, respectively. A line perpendicular to the x-axis passing through the right focus intersects the ellipse at points A and B. If the area of triangle F1ABF_{1}AB is 3, and the eccentricity of the ellipse e=12e= \frac{1}{2},
(I) Find the equation of the ellipse C;
(II) Given P(x1x_{1},y1y_{1}), Q(x2x_{2},y2y_{2}) (x1x_{1}x2x_{2}, y1y_{1}y2y_{2}) are two distinct points on the ellipse, R is the midpoint of PQ, M and N are the symmetric points of P with respect to the origin and the x-axis, respectively. Prove that the product of m (the x-intercept of the line QM), n (the y-intercept of the line QN), and the slope of the line OR is constant.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Official solution

(I) Since the eccentricity of the ellipse e=12e= \frac{1}{2},
We have ca=12\frac{c}{a}=\frac{1}{2}, thus a=2ca=2c,
Given F2F_{2}(cc,0),
Substitute x=cx=c into the ellipse equation, we get y=±b2ay=±\frac{b^{2}}{a},
Thus, AB=2b2a|AB|=\frac{2b^{2}}{a},
Given the area of triangle F1ABF_{1}AB is 3,
12×2c×2b2a=3\frac{1}{2}×2c×\frac{2b^{2}}{a}=3,
Thus, b2=3b^{2}=3,
Substitute b2b^{2} into a2c2=b2a^{2}-c^{2}=b^{2}, we get a2=4a^{2}=4,
Thus, the equation of the ellipse is x24+y23=1\frac{x^{2}}{4}+ \frac{y^{2}}{3}=1;

(II) Proof: Given P(x1x_{1},y1y_{1}), then M(x1-x_{1},y1-y_{1}), N(x1x_{1},y1-y_{1}),
The equation of the line QM is y+y1=y2+y1x2+x1(x+x1)y+y_{1}=\frac{y_{2}+y_{1}}{x_{2}+x_{1}}(x+x_{1}),
Let y=0y=0, we get m=x2y1x1y2y1+y2m=\frac{x_{2}y_{1}-x_{1}y_{2}}{y_{1}+y_{2}},
The equation of the line QN is y+y1=y2+y1x2x1(xx1)y+y_{1}=\frac{y_{2}+y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}(x-x_{1}),
Let x=0x=0, we get n=x1y2+x2y1x1x2n=\frac{x_{1}y_{2}+x_{2}y_{1}}{x_{1}-x_{2}},
Given R is the midpoint of PQ,
Thus, R(x1+x22\frac{x_{1}+x_{2}}{2}, y1+y22\frac{y_{1}+y_{2}}{2}),
The slope of the line OR is kOR=y1+y2x1+x2k_{OR}=\frac{y_{1}+y_{2}}{x_{1}+x_{2}},
Therefore, mnkOR=x2y1x1y2y1+y2x1y2+x2y1x1x2y1+y2x1+x2=(x2y1)2(x1y2)2x12x22=x22(34a2x12)x12(34a2x22)x12x22=34a23=33=0m•n•k_{OR}=\frac{x_{2}y_{1}-x_{1}y_{2}}{y_{1}+y_{2}}•\frac{x_{1}y_{2}+x_{2}y_{1}}{x_{1}-x_{2}}•\frac{y_{1}+y_{2}}{x_{1}+x_{2}}=\frac{(x_{2}y_{1})^{2}-(x_{1}y_{2})^{2}}{x_{1}^{2}-x_{2}^{2}}=\frac{x_{2}^{2}(\frac{3}{4}a^{2}-x_{1}^{2})-x_{1}^{2}(\frac{3}{4}a^{2}-x_{2}^{2})}{x_{1}^{2}-x_{2}^{2}}=\frac{3}{4}a^{2}-3=3-3=\boxed{0},
Thus, mnkORm•n•k_{OR} is constant.

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