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jmc

algebra senior

Problem

The ellipse whose equation is is graphed below. The chord passes through a focus of the ellipse. If then find

problem
Solution
In the given ellipse, and so We can take

Let Then and Solving for in we get Substituting, we get This simplifies to which factors as Since Then This leads to so We can take

Thus, the slope of line is so its equation is To find we substitute into the equation of the ellipse, to get This simplifies to We could try factoring it, but we know that is a solution (because we are solving for the intersection of the line and the ellipse, and is an intersection point.) Hence, by Vieta's formulas, the other solution is Then Hence,
Final answer
\frac{9}{4}