# Math Help - Tangent lines to an ellipse from an external point

1. ## Tangent lines to an ellipse from an external point

Given an the equation of an ellipse, say $\frac{x^2}{9}+\frac{y^2}{16}=1$,
find the equations of the two lines tangent to this ellipse passing through the external point

2. ## Re: Tangent lines to an ellipse from an external point

Originally Posted by Kaloda
Given an the equation of an ellipse, say $\frac{x^2}{9}+\frac{y^2}{16}=1$,
find the equations of the two lines tangent to this ellipse passing through the external point
1. Solve the equation for y^2
2. Implicit differentiation

That gives the equation for the tangent lines.
3. Plug in point P.
4. What can you come up with?

-Dan

3. ## Re: Tangent lines to an ellipse from an external point

Compute the slope of the tangent at the point of contact say $(\alpha,\beta)$which is $\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{-16\alpha}{9\beta}$. Now we have the slope of the line also as $\frac{6-\beta}{5-\alpha} = \frac{-16\alpha}{9\beta} \implies 16\alpha^2 + 9 \beta^2 = 9*6\beta+9*10\alpha$ from the equation of ellipse we have $16\alpha^2 + 9 \beta^2 = 9*16=9*6\beta+9*10\alpha \implies 5\alpha+3\beta=8$ substitute in $\frac{\alpha^2}{9} + \frac{\beta^2}{16} = 1$ and solve for $\beta$ you will get two points on the ellipse, and hence you can get two lines.

~Kalyan.