Differential Calculus 2

UNIT III DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

SHORT ANSWER

Problem 1: Write down the formula for radius of curvature in terms of parametric
coordinates system.

Solution: Let x  f  t and y  g  t be the parametric equations of the given curve.

3/ 2
 f ' 2  g ' 2 
Then the radius of curvature   .
f ' g '' f '' g '

Problem 2: Find the radius of curvature of the curve given by

x  3  2 cos  , y  4  2sin 

Solution: Given: x  3  2 cos  , y  4  2sin 

3/ 2
 x ' 2  y ' 2 
Formula :  
x ' y" x" y'
x  3  2 cos  y  4  2sin 
x '  2sin  y '  2 cos 
x"  2 cos  y"  2sin 
x '2  y '2  4sin 2   4 cos 2   4 sin 2   cos2    4
x ' y '' x" y'  4sin 2   4 cos 2   4 sin 2   cos 2    4

 4
3/ 2

  4   4
3/ 2 1
  2
1/ 2

4
a
Problem 3: Find the envelope of the curve y  mx where m is a parameter.
m
a
Solution: Given: y  mx (1)
m
 ym  m2 x a
m2 x  ym a  0
This is a quadratic in ‘m’
So the envelope is given by B2  4 AC  0
Here A  x, B  y, C a
B2  4 AC  y2  4 xa  0
.
i.e., y2  4 ax
Problem 4: Find the envelope of x cos   ysin   p where  is the parameter.
Differential Calculus 3

Solution: Given, x cos  +y sin  = p (1)

Differentiating w.r.t. 
-x sin  +y cos  =0 (2)
Eliminate  between (1) & (2)
Square and add,
 x cos   ysin      xsin   ycos    p2  02
2 2

x2 cos 2   y2 sin 2   2 xysin  cos 

 x2 sin 2   y2 cos 2   2 xysin  cos   p2
x2  cos 2   sin 2    y2  sin 2   cos 2    p2
x2  y2  p2
1
Problem 5: Find the envelope of the family given by x  my , mbeing the parameter.
m
1
Solution: Given x  my  ,m
m
xm  m2 y 1
m2 y  xm 1  0
This is a quadratic equation in ‘m’
So the envelope is B2  4 AC  0
Here A  y, B  x, C 1
   x  4  y1  0
2

i.e., x2  4 y  0
x2  4 y
 x
Problem 6: Find the radius of curvature at any point of y  c cosh  
c
 x
Solution: y  cosh   (1)
c
 x 1   x
y1  c sinh      sinh  
 c  c  c
 x   1   1  x
y2  cosh       cosh  
 c   c   c c

 
1  y  2 3/ 2
1

y2
3/ 2 3/ 2
 2  x   2  x 
1  sinh  c   cosh  c  
   
 c
1  x cos
x
cosh  
c c c
Differential Calculus 4

 x
cosh 2  
c  c   c cosh 2  x 
 
 x c
cosh  
c
 y2 
 c  2  by 1
c 
y2

c
c2
At  0, c    c
c
Problem 7: Find the radius of curvature of curve y=ex at (0.1)
Solution:
y = ex At(0,1)
y1 = ex e0 = 1

y2 = ex e0 = 1


1  y  2 3/ 2
1

1  1
3/ 2

2 2.
y2 1

Problem 8: Find the radius of curvature at any point on the curve r  e 

3/ 2
 r 2  r ' 2 
Solution: Formula   2
r  rr " 2r ' 2
Given: r  e  Then r '  e 
r "  e
 e  2   e 2 
3/ 2

   
e 
 2
 e e  2  e 
2

 2  e  2 
3/ 2

23/ 2  e 
3
 
 
e   e 
 2  2
 2  e  2  e 
2 2

e  
1

 22 2 e  2 r

Problem 9: Find the curvature of the curve 2 x2  2 y2  5 x 2 y 1  0

Solution: Given: f  x, y  2 x2  2 y2  5 x 2 y 1  0
Differential Calculus 5

fx  4 x  5 fy  4 y 2
fxy  0 fxx  4 f yy  4

f  fy2 
2 3/ 2


x

fxx f y2  2 fxy fx fy  fyy f2x

 4 x  5 2   4 y  2 3/ 2 
  
4  4 y  2  0  4  4 x  5
2 2

3/ 2
 4 x  5  2   4 y  2  2 
 
4  4 x  5   4 y  2 
 2 2
 
1 2 1/ 2
  4 x  5    4 y  2  
2

4 
1 4 4
Curvature    at  0, 0 
  4 x  5   4 y  2 
2 2
29

Problem 10: Define evolute and involute.

Solution: The locus of the centre of curvature of the given curve is called the evolute of
the curve. The given curve is called the involute of its evolute

Problem 11: Find the envelope of the family 1- x2 + (y - k)2 = 0, where k is a parameter.

Solution: Given 1- x2 + (y - k)2 = 0 (1)

Differentiating (1) partially w.r. to k, we get
2  y  k  1  0
y k  0
k  y ......  2 
Substituting (2) in (1), we get
1  x2  0
i.e., x2  1 , which is the envelope of the given curve.

x
Problem 12: Find the envelope of the family of lines  yt  2 c, t being the parameter.
t
Solution: Given family of lines can be written as
yt 2  2 ct  x  0 (1)
The envelope of
At2  Bt  C  0 is B2  4 AC 0 (2)
From (1) we get A  y, B 2 c, C  x
Putting these values in (2) we get
Differential Calculus 6

 2c   4  y  x  0
2

4c  4 xy  0
2

c 2  xy  0 i. e., xy  c2 , which is the required envelope.

x y
Problem 13: Find the envelope of the family of lines cos   sin   1,  being the
a b
parameter.
x y
Solution: Given: cos   sin   1 (1)
a b
Diff. partially (1) w.r.to ‘  ’ we get
x y
 sin   cos   0 (2)
a b
1   2 
2 2

 x
2 2
x y y 
 cos   sin     sin   cos    1  0
2 2

a b   a b 
2 2
x y 2 xy
2
cos 2   2 sin 2   cos  sin   1
a b ab
x2 y2 2 xy
 2 sin 2   2 cos 2   cos  sin   1
a b ab
x2 y2
2 
 cos 2
  sin 2
 
  cos 2   sin 2    1
2 
a b
2 2
x y
2
 2  1 cos 2   sin 2   1
a b

Problem 14: Find the radius of curvature at any point P  a cos  , b sin   on the
x2 y2 1
ellipse 2
 2  1 . Show that the eccentricity of the ellipse is , if the centre of
a b 2
curvature at one end of the minor axis lies at the other end.

Solution:

x  a cos  , y  b sin 
dx dy
x'    a sin  y'   b cos 
d d
d 2x 2
x"    a cos  y "  d y   b sin 
d 2
d2
3/ 2
 x '  2   y '  2 
 
x ' y" y' x"
Differential Calculus 7

a sin 2   b 2 cos 2  
2 3/ 2


 a sin   b sin    b cos   a cos  
a sin 2   b 2 cos 2   a sin 2  b 2 cos 2  
2 3/ 2 2 3/ 2

 
ab sin 2   ab cos 2  ab

Given that  
2
2
a
   2b
b
a 2  2b 2
 2a 2 1  e 2  b 2  a 2 1 e 2  
1 1
e2  i.e., e 
2 2
x y
Problem 15: Find the envelope of   1 where the parameters a and b are related by
a b
ab = c2, c is known.
c2 x ay
Solution: b  . Hence the straight line becomes,  2  1
a a c
i.e., c 2 x  a 2 y  ac 2
i.e., a 2 y  ac 2  c 2x  0 which is a quadratic in a.
Hence the envelope is B2 – 4AC = 0.
i.e.,  c 
2 2
 4 y( c2 x)  0 i.e., 4xy  c2

LONG ANSWER

Problem 16: Find the radius of curvature at the point

 on x  3 a cos   a cos 3 and y  3a sin   a sin 3 .
dy
dy d
Solution: Given x  f   , y  f   Then  ,
dx dx
d
dx dy
 3a sin   3a sin 3 ,  3a cos   3a cos 3
d d
dy 3 a cos   3a cos 3
 
dx 3 a sin   3a sin 3
 cos 3  cos  
 
 sin 3  sin  
2sin 2 .sin 
  tan 2
2 cos 2 .sin 
Differential Calculus 8

d2y d
2
 2sec 2 2 .
dx dx
1
 2sec 2 2 .
3a  sin 3  sin  
2 sec2 2
 .
3a 2 cos 2 sin 
1

3a cos 2 sin 
3

3
  dy  2  2 d 2 y
Radius of curvature   1     / 2
  dx   dx
3
  1  tan 2 2  2 3a cos3 2 sin   sec3 2 .3a cos 3 2 sin 
 3a sin 

Problem 17: Show that the circle of curvature of x  y  a at  ,  is

a a
4 4
2 2
 3a   3a  a 2
 x  
  y    .
 4   4  2
Solution: Give x  y  a
1 1 dy
Diff.w.r.to x, we get  . 0
2 x 2 y dx
dy  y
 (1)
dx x
a
dy 4  1
y1 a a   
 , 
4 4
dx  a , a  a
4 4
4
 1 1 
 x. . y1  y.
d y 2
2 y 2 x
Differentiate (1) write to x, 2    
dx  x 
 
 
 a 1 a 1 
 . .  1  . 
 4 a 4 a 
2 2
d2y  4 4
y2 a a   2 a a    
 ,  dx  ,  a
 4 4 4 4  
 4 
 
Differential Calculus 9

 1 1
  2  2 

a
4
4
y2 a a  
 , 
4 4
a
 The radius of curvature is
3
3

1  y   a a  1   1 
 
2 2
2 2

 at  ,  
1

y2 4 4 4
a
a
 2 2
4
a 2

2
X  x
y1
y2
1  y12 

a a 3a
X   2 
4 4 4
Y  y 1  y1 
1 2

y2


a

4 4
1
 a 2a

1   1   .....  2 
2

4 4
 
 
a
3a
Y
4
   
2 2
Circle of curvature is x  X  y Y   2
2 2
 3a   3a  a 2
i.e.,  x  
  y   
 4   4  2
x y
Problem 18: In the curve   1 , show that the radius of curvature at the point
a b
3
 x, y varies as  ax  by 2
1 1
 x 2  y 2
Solution: Given       1
a  b 
x y
i.e.  1
a b
b x  a y  ab (1)
Differential Calculus 10

Differentiating (1) with respect to x;

1 1 dy
b.  a. . 0
2 x 2 y dx
dy by

dx ax
 1 dy 1 
 x. .  y.
d y 2
b 2 y dx 2 x
  
dx2 a x 
 
 
 1 dy 1 
 x. .  y.
 b 2 y dx 2 x
 
a  x 
 
 
 b  b y 1
   .
a  2 a 2 x  x
b  b x y a 1
  .
a  2 a x  x
b ab 1 b
 . 
a 2 a x x 2x a x
 The radius of curvature at  x, y is
3
  dy  2  2 3


     by  2
1  
1 3


  dx  
 
ax 

 ax  by  2 2x a x
.
2
  3
d y

b
  ax  2
b
 2x a x 
2
dx
 
3
2  ax  by  2 3
 i.e.  k.  ax  by 2
ab
Hence proved

Problem 19: Show that the radius of curvature at any point of the curve
x  ae  sin   cos   , y  ae  sin   cos   is twice the perpendicular distance of the
tangent at the point from the origin.

Solution: Given x  ae  sin   cos  

dx
Hence,  ae   cos   sin    ae   sin   cos    2ae  sin 
d
Differential Calculus 11

y  ae  sin   cos  

dy
 ae  (cos   sin  )  ae  (sin   cos  )  2ae  cos 
d
dy
dy d 2 ae cos 
y1     cot 
dx dx 2 ae sin 
d
d y d  dy 
2
y2  2   
dx dx  dx 
d d
  y1  .
d dx
d 1
  cot   . 
d 2ae sin 
 cos ec   cos ec 3
2
 
2ae  sin  2ae 

 The radius of curvature is

3 3


1  y 
2 2
1

1  cot  
2 2

y2  cos ec 3

2ae 
3
  cos ec 2  2

cos ec 3
2ae 
cos ec 3
  2ae 
 cos ec 
3

2ae 

  2ae  (Since the radius of curvature is non-negative)

Equation of the tangent is
cos 
y  ae  sin   cos   
sin 
 x  ae  sin   cos   

y sin   ae sin   ae sin  cos   x cos   ae  sin  cos   ae  cos 2 

 2 

y sin   x cos   ae  cos 2   sin 2  

y sin   x cos   ae
The length of the perpendicular from the origin i.e. (0, 0) to the tangent is
0.sin   0.cos  ae  ax  by1  c
p  ae  , using the formula, p  1
sin 2   cos 2  a2 b2
Differential Calculus 12

p  ae  (Omitting the negative sign)   2 p.

Hence proved

Problem 20: Find the centre of curvature and circle of curvature of the curve
x = a (cos t + t sin t), y = a (sin t – t cos t) at any point‘t’.

Solution:
dx
= a (-sin t +sin t + t cos t) = at cos t
dt
dy
= a (cos t + t sin t – cos t) = at sin t
dt
dy at sin t
y1 =   tan t
dx at cos t

d2y dt 1 1
y2 =  sec 2 t.  sec 2 t. 
dx 2
dx at cost at cos 3 t

(1  y12 ) 3/2
ρ
y2
 (1  tan 2 t) 3/2 .at cos 3 t
 (sec 2 t) 3/2 .at cos 3 t
 sec 3 t.at.cos 3 t
 at
If (X, Y) is the centre of curvature
y1 (1  y12 )
Xx
y2
= a (cos t + t sin t) - tan t (1  tan 2 t) at cos 3 t
= a cos t + at sin t – at tan t. sec2t cos3t
= a cos t + at sin t –at sin t
= a cos t
(1  y12
Y  y
y2
= a (sin t – t cos t) + (1 + tan2t) (at cos3 t)
= a sin t – at cos t + sec2t. at.cos3 t
= a sin t – at cos t + at cos t
= a sin t
 The centre of curvature is (a cos t, a sin t).

The circle of curvature is (x  X)2  (y  Y) 2  ρ2

i.e., (x - a cos t)2 + (y - a sin t)2 = a2t2.

Differential Calculus 13

x 2 y2
Problem21: Find the equation of the evolute of the ellipse  1
a 2 b2
Solution:
The parametric equations of the ellipse are x = a cos  and y = b sin 
dx dy
  a sinθ and  b cosθ
dθ dθ
dy  b cosθ  b
y1    cotθ
dx a sinθ a
d2y d   b  dθ
y2    cotθ 
dx 2
dθ  a  dx
b 1 b
 (cosec θ)
2
  2 (cosec 3θ)
 a   asinθ  a 
Let (x , y) be the coordinates of the centre of curvature.
y1
Then xx (1  y12 )
y2
b 
 cotθ 
 a cosθ -   . (1  b cot 2 θ)
2
a
b 3  a2
 2 cosec θ 
a 
b 2

= a cos  -a cot .sin3  1  2 cot 2 θ 
a 
 b 2

= a cos  - a cos .sin2  1  2 cot 2 θ 
 a 
b2
= a cos  - a cos .sin2  - cos 3θ
a
b2
= a cos  (1 - sin2 ) - cos 3θ
a
b2
= a cos3  - cos3θ
a
a 2 - b2
i.e., x  .cos 3 θ (1)
a
(1  y12 )
Now y  y 
y2
1  b2 
 b sin θ  .1  2 cot 2 θ 
 -b 3 
 2 .cosec θ   
a
a 
a2  b2 
 b sin θ  .sin 3θ. 1  2 cot 2θ 
b  a 
Differential Calculus 14

a2
 b sin θ  .sin 3θ-b sinθ cos 2θ
b
a2
 b sin θ (1 - cos 2 θ)  sin 3 θ
b
a2
 b sin 3 θ - sin 3θ
b
 a 2 - b2  3
i.e y  -   sin θ (2)
 b 
Locus of (x , y) is obtained by eliminating θ from (1) and (2)
1/ 3
 ax 
From (1) cos  =  2 2 
a b 
1/3
  by 
From (2) sin  =  2 
a b 
2

cos 2  + sin2  =1
2/3
  by 
2/3
 ax 
i.e.,  2 2 
 2 2 
1
a b  a b 

i.e., ax 2 / 3  by 2/3  (a 2  b 2 ) 2 / 3

 The equation of the evolute of the ellipse is ax   by   (a 2  b 2 ) 2/3
2/3 2/3

Problem 22: Show that the evolute of the cycloid x = a (  - sin  ),

y = a ( 1 - cos  ) is again a cycloid.

Solution:
Given x = a (  - sin  ) and y = a ( 1 - cos  )
Differentiating w.r.t 
dx dy
  a (1 - cosθ ) and  a sin θ
dθ dθ
dy a sin θ 2.sinθ / 2.cosθ / 2
y1     cot θ / 2
dx a (1-cosθ ) 2 sin 2 / 2
i.e., y1 = cot  /2 (1)
d2y d dθ
y2 = 2  (cot θ /2).
dx dθ dx
1 1
 cosec2 (  /2).
2 a (1- cos )
1 1
 cosec 2 ( θ /2).
2a 2sin 2 θ/2
1
 cosec 4 ( θ /2) (2)
4a
Differential Calculus 15

If (x , y) is the centre of curvature,

y1
xx (1  y12 )
y2

 a (θ  sinθ ) 
cotθ / 2

1  cot 2 θ / 2 
 1 
  cosec θ / 2
4

 4a 
4a. cot θ / 2
 a (θ  sin θ)  . cos ec 2 θ / 2.
cos ec 4 θ / 2
= a ( - sin ) + 4a. sin /2.cos  /2.
= a ( - sin  ) + 2a sin 
i.e., x  a (θ  sin θ) (3)
(1  y12 )
yx
y2
1
 a (1 - cos θ )  (1  cot 2 θ/2 )
-1
cosec 4 θ/2
4a
= a (1 - cos ) - 4a sin2  /2
= a (1 - cos ) - 2a (1 - cos  )
i.e., y  a (1  cos θ ) (4)
The evolute of the given cycloid is the locus of (x, y) . Eliminating  from (1) and (2) we
get the equation of the evolute. Otherwise, the parametric equations of the locus of
(x, y) are x = a ( + sin  ) and y = - a (1 - cos  ). These are the parametric equations of
a cycloid. Thus the evolute of a cycloid is again a cycloid.

Problem 23: Prove that the evolute of the tractrix x = a (cos t + log tan (t/2)),
y = a sin t is a catenary.

Solution:
Given x = a (cos t + log tan (t/2))
dx  1 
  a  - sin t  sec 2 ( t / 2).(1 / 2) 
dt  tan (t/2) 
 1 cos (t/2) 
 a  - sin t  . 
 2 sin ( t/2) cos (t /2) 
2

 1 
 a  - sin t  
 2 sin (t/2) cos (t /2) 
Differential Calculus 16

 1   1 - sin 2 t 
 a  - sin t    a  
 sin t   sin t 
dx  cos 2 t 
i.e.,  a  
dt  sin t 
y = a sin t
dy
  a cos t
dt
dy a cos t
y1  
dx  cos 2 t 
a. 
 sin t 
i.e., y1 = tan t (1)
d2y d dt sin t
y 2  2  (tan t).  sec 2 t.
dx dt dx a cos 2 t
sin t
i.e., y2  (2)
acos 4 t
If (x, y) is the centre of curvature, then
y1
xx (1  y12 )
y2
tan t
= a (cos t + log tan (t /2)) - ( 1  tan 2 t ) (Using (1) and (2))
 sin t 
 4 
 a cos t 
sin t cos 4 t
= a (cos t + log tan (t /2)) - a. . .sec 2 t
cos t sin t
= a cos t + a log tan (t /2) - a cos t
i.e., x = a log tan (t /2) (3)
(1  y12 )
y  y+
y2
1
= a sin t + ( 1  tan 2 t )
 sin t 
 4 
 a cos t 
a cos 4 t
= a sin t + .sec 2 t
sint
a
 (sin 2 t  cos 2 t)
sin t
a
i.e., y (4)
sin t
From (3) and (4) we get the parametric equation of the evolute as
a
x = a log tan (t /2), y
sin t
Differential Calculus 17

A relation between x and y is obtained by eliminating t.

Now from x = a log tan (t /2), we get x/a = log tan (t /2),
 ex / a = tan (t /2) and e-x / a = cot (t /2)
e x / a  e -x / a
Now cosh x/a 
2
sint/2 cost/2

tan t /2  cot t /2 cost/2 sint/2
 
2 2
sin t/2  cos t / 2
2 2

2sin t /2 cos t /2
1
i.e., cosh x/a 
sin t
a
 a cosh x/a  y
sin t
i.e., y  a cosh x/a , which is a catenary.

Problem 24: Find the envelope of the family of straight lines y = mx – 2am – am3,
where m is a parameter.

Solution:
Given y = mx – 2am – am3 (1)
Differentiating partially w.r.t m
0 = x – 2a – 3am2 (2)
Eliminate m between (1) and (2)
x  2a
From (2), m 2 
3a
From (1), y = m(x – 2a – am2)
 x  2a 
y = m  x  2a 
 3 
2
y  m. .(x  2a)
3
3y
m 
2(x  2a)
2
 3y 
Now from (2) 0 = x – 2a – 3a  
 2(x  2a) 
i.e., 4(x - 2a)3 = 27ay2 is the equation of the envelope.

 a2   b2 
Problem 25: Find the envelope of the family of curves  cosθ   sinθ  c
 x   y 
   
where  is a parameter.
Differential Calculus 18

Solution:
 a2   b2 
Given   cosθ    sinθ  c (1)
 x   y 
Differentiating w.r.t 
 a2   b2 
  (- sin θ)    cos θ  0
 x   y 
 a2   b2 
 sin θ    cos θ  0 (2)
 x   y 
   
The equation of the envelope is obtained by eliminating  between (1) and (2)
Now squaring and adding (1) and (2)
2 2
 a2   b2 
  (cos θ  sin θ)  
2 2
 (sin 2 θ  cos 2 θ )  c 2
 x   y 
a 4 b4
2
 2  c2
x y
i.e., a4 y2 + b4 x2 = c2 x2 y2.

Problem 26: Find the envelope of the family of curves y = mx + a 1  m 2 where m

is a parameter.

Solution:
We have y = mx + a 1  m 2
y – mx = a 1  m 2
Squaring both sides (y – mx )2 = a2 (1 + m2 )
i.e., y2 – 2mxy + m2x2 = a2 (1 + m2 )
(x2 - a2 )m2 – 2xy.m + y2 – a2 = 0
This being a quadratic equation in m, the equation of the envelope is given by
B2 = 4AC, where A = x2 - a2, B = -2xy, C = y2 - a2
i.e., 4x2y2 = 4(x2 - a2) (y2 - a2)
x2y2 = x2y2 – x2a2 – y2a2 + a4
x2 + y2 = a2. The envelope is a circle.

Problem 27: Find the evolute of the parabola y2 = 4ax considering it as the envelope
of its normals.

Solution:
The equation of normal at any point (at2, 2at) on the parabola y2 = 4ax is
y + xt = 2at +at3 (1)
Differentiating partially w.r.t. t, we get,
0 + x = 2a + 3at2 (2)
Differential Calculus 19

To find the envelope of the family of normals, eliminate t between (1) and (2).
1/2
 x  2a 
From (2), t   
 3a 
Substituting in (1), we get
1/2 1/2 3/2
 x  2a   x  2a   x  2a 
y  x.   2a.   a. 
 3a   3a   3a 
 x  2a 
1/2
 x  2a 
3/2

y  - (x - 2a).    a. 
 3a   3a 
3/2
 x  2a 
y  (3a  a)
 3a 
3
 x  2a  2
y 
2
 4a
 3a 
(x  2a) 3
y2  3
.4a 2
27a
27ay2 = 4(x – 2a) 3
This is the equation of the evolute of the given parabola.
x 2 y2
Problem 28: Find the evolute of the ellipse   1 , treating it as the envelope of
a 2 b2
its normals.

Solution:
x 2 y2
The normal at any point (a cos , b sin ) on the ellipse   1 is
a 2 b2
ax by
  a 2  b2 (1)
cos θ sin θ
Differentiating (1) w.r.t 
ax by
.sinθ  .cosθ  0
cos θ
2
sin 2 θ
ax by
Dividing by sinθ cosθ,  0 (2)
cos θ sin 3 θ
3

Eliminate  between (1) and (2)

ax  by
From (2)   k (say)
cos θ sin 3 θ
3

1/3 1/3
 ax   -by 
 cos θ    and sin θ    (3)
 k   k 
cos2 + sin2 =1
2/3 2/3
 ax   -by 
    1
 k   k 
k 2/3  (ax) 2/3  (by) 2/3 (4)
Substituting in (1) for sin  and cos  from (3)
Differential Calculus 20

(ax) 2/3

 (by) 2/3 k 1/3  a 2  b 2
(ax) 2/3
 k  a  b 
 (by) 2/3 2 2/3 2 2 2

(ax) 2/3
 (by)   a  b 
2/3 3 2 2 2
(Using (4)))
i.e. , (ax)  (by)  a  b 
2/3 2/3 2 2 2/3

x 2 y2
This is the evolute of the ellipse  1
a 2 b2
x y
Problem 29: Find the envelope of the straight lines   1 where the parameters
a b
a and b are connected by the relation a2 + b2 = c2 and c is a constant.

Solution:
x y
Given  1 (1)
a b
Differentiating w.r.t a
x y db
2
 2 . 0 (2)
a b da
Given a2 + b2 = c2
Differentiating w.r.t a
db
2a  2b. 0 (3)
da
Eliminate a and b between (1), (2) and (3).
Comparing (1) and (2)
x y
a2  b2
2a 2b
x y 1
i.e., 3  3  3 (say)
a b k
Then a = k.x1/3, b = k.y1/3
Now a2 + b2 = c2
i.e., k2x2/3 + k2y2/3 = c2
c2 c
k 2  k
x 2/3  y 2/3 x 2/3
 y 2/3
x y
 From (1)  1
kx 1/3 ky1/3
i.e., x2/3 + y2/3 = k
c
i.e., x2/3 + y2/3 = 
x 2/3
 y 2/3
Cross multiplying and squaring, we get,
(x2/3 + y2/3)3 = c2
Differential Calculus 21

i.e., x2/3 + y2/3 = c2/3

x 2 y2
Problem 30: Prove that the envelope of the family of ellipses   1 , where a
a 2 b2
and b are connected by the relation a2 + b2 = c2 and c is a constant is x  y =  c.

Solution:
x 2 y2 2 2 2
Given 2
 2  1 and b = c – a .
a b
x 2
y2
 2  2 1
a c  a2
i.e., (c2 – a2) x2 + a2y2 = a2(c2 - a2) (1)
Equation (1) is a family of curves with parameter a . Rewriting (1) as a quadratic in a2,
2

we get, a4 + (y2 - x2 - c2)a2 + c2x2 = 0

The equation of the envelope is given by
B2 = 4AC where A = 1, B = y2 - x2 - c2 and C = c2x2.
Substituting for A, B, C we get the equation of the envelope as, (y2 - x2 - c2)2 = 4.1 c2x2
i.e., y2 - x2 - c2 =  2cx
i.e., y2 - x2 - c2 = 2cx; y2 - x2 - c2 = -2cx
i.e., x2 + 2cx + c2 - y2 = 0; x2 - 2cx + c2 - y2 = 0
i.e., (x + c)2 – y2 = 0; (x – c )2 – y2 = 0
i.e., x + c =  y; x –c =  y
i.e., x  c = y
i.e., x  y = c is the envelope of the given family of ellipses.