Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 3 / 19 of 260 #19 of 1964

Problem 19

AMC 10/12, early questions
Geometry Difficulty 3.1 Find the answer

Given that FF is a focus of the hyperbola CC: y2mx2=3m(m>0)y^{2}-mx^{2}=3m (m > 0), the distance from point FF to one asymptote of CC is:

Pick one

Official solution

The hyperbola CC: y2mx2=3m(m>0)y^{2}-mx^{2}=3m (m > 0) can be rewritten as y23mx23=1\dfrac {y^{2}}{3m} - \dfrac {x^{2}}{3} = 1,

Thus, we have a2=3ma^{2}=3m, b2=3b^{2}=3, and c2=a2+b2=3m+3c^{2}=a^{2}+b^{2}=3m+3.

Let F(0,3m+3)F(0, \sqrt {3m+3}), the equation of one asymptote is y=mxy= \sqrt {m}x.

Hence, the distance from point FF to one asymptote of CC is 3m+31+m=3\dfrac {| \sqrt {3m+3}|}{ \sqrt {1+m}}= \sqrt {3}.

Therefore, the answer is A\boxed{A}.

The solution involves converting the hyperbola equation into standard form, determining the coordinates of the focus FF and the equation of one asymptote, and then using the formula for the distance from a point to a line to find the required distance. This problem tests understanding of hyperbola properties, the application of asymptote equations, and the use of the distance formula, and is considered a basic problem.

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