Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A curve in the first quadrant has this property. At every point , the tangent meets the -axis at and the -axis at , and divides the segment in the ratio , so is nearer to . The curve passes through the point . A student first writes the intercepts: the tangent meets the -axis at and the -axis at . She then uses the section formula for in terms of and to get a differential equation, solves it, and uses the given point to find the constant. The curve has the form . Find , find the value of at , and find the slope of the curve at .
To find orthogonal trajectories, form without the constant, then solve . The tangent meets the axes at and . The sub-tangent is and the sub-normal is .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. The tangent meets the axes at and , and .
Plan. Use the section formula to find , solve, and fix with .
Step 1. The section formula. , so and .
Step 2. Simplify. The first gives , so and . The second gives , which is the same equation.
Step 3. Solve. gives , so .
Step 4. The constant. , so .
Step 5. The height and the slope. At : . At : .
Answer: , at and the slope is at .
Check. At the tangent has slope and meets the axes at and . The point is , so the ratio is right.
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