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Question

If a tangent to the circle x2+y2=1 intersects the coordinate axes at distinct points P and Q, then the locus of the mid-point of PQ is:

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Solution

Let mid-point of PQ be S having coordinates (h,k).
Hence, coordinates of P and Q are (2h,0) and (0,2k) respectively.
Also, the equation of PQ using Intercept form is
x2h+y2k=1
Given circle is x2+y2=1
C=(0,0),r=1
Also, PQ is tangent to circle, so distance from centre to PQ is equal to radius
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣1(12h)2+(12k)2∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣=114h2+14k2=1k2+h2=4h2k2

Hence, the locus is
x2+y24x2y2=0

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