Rotate the coordinate axes \(45^\circ\) counterclockwise for the ellipse
\(5x^2-6xy+5y^2=8\), and call the new coordinates \((x',y')\).
In the rotated coordinate system, the line \(x'=1\) cuts a chord from the ellipse.
a) Write the ellipse in principal form and find the chord endpoints in \((x',y')\).
b) Convert the endpoints to the original \((x,y)\)-coordinates, then find the chord's midpoint and length.
Hints
- Use the stated rotation to rewrite the mixed quadratic in the new coordinates.
- The chord condition is given in the rotated frame, so solve for its endpoints there before converting back.
- An orthonormal rotation preserves midpoint relationships and distances.
Solution
1. Use \(x=\frac{x'-y'}{\sqrt{2}}\) and \(y=\frac{x'+y'}{\sqrt{2}}\).
2. Then \(x^2+y^2=x'^2+y'^2\) and \(xy=\frac{x'^2-y'^2}{2}\), so the ellipse becomes \(2x'^2+8y'^2=8\), or \(\frac{x'^2}{4}+y'^2=1\).
3. On the chord, \(x'=1\), so \(\frac{1}{4}+y'^2=1\), giving \(y'=\pm\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\).
4. Thus the rotated endpoints are \(\left(1,\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)\) and \(\left(1,-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)\).
5. Converting back gives \(\left(\frac{2-\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}},\frac{2+\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}}\right)\) and \(\left(\frac{2+\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}},\frac{2-\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}}\right)\).
6. Their midpoint is \(\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}},\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\). Rotation preserves length, and the y'-coordinates differ by \(\sqrt{3}\), so the chord length is \(\sqrt{3}\).
Answer
a) Principal form: \(\frac{x'^2}{4}+y'^2=1\); rotated endpoints: \(\left(1,\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)\), \(\left(1,-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)\)
b) Original endpoints: \(\left(\frac{2-\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}},\frac{2+\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}}\right)\) and \(\left(\frac{2+\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}},\frac{2-\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{2}}\right)\); midpoint: \(\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}},\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\); length: \(\sqrt{3}\)