AB is a chord of the parabola y2=4ax with vertex at A. BC is drawn perpendicular to AB meeting the axis at C. The projection of BC on the x-axis is-
4a
Let B be at2,2at
Slope of AB=2t. Equation of BC is
y−2at=−t2(x−at2).
This meets y = 0 at C. Then,
C=(4a+at2,0) and D=(at2,0)
∴DC=4a+at2−at2=4a.